WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION 
ORGANISATION MONDIALE DU COMMERCE 
ORGANIZACION MUNDIAL DEL COMERCIO 
Council for Trade-Related Aspects of 
Intellectual Property Rights IP/N/1/EGY/I/l 
6 August 2004 
(04-3363) 
Original: Egnlish/ 
anglaisl 
ingles 
MAIN DEDICATED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY 
LAWS AND REGULATIONS NOTIFIED UNDER 
ARTICLE 63.2 OF THE AGREEMENT 
EGYPT 
The present document reproduces the textl of the unified Law on the Protection of Intellectual 
Property Rights (Law N° 82), enacted on 3 June 2002, notified by Egypt under Article 63.2 of the 
Agreement by means of a communication from its Delegation dated 22 May 2003. This translation is 
currently being reviewed. 
Conseil des aspects des droits de propriete 
intellectuelle qui touchent au commerce 
PRINCIPALES LOIS ET REGLEMENTATIONS CONSACREES A LA 
PROPRIETE INTELLECTUELLE NOTIFIEES AU TITRE 
DE L'ARTICLE 63:2 DE L'ACCORD 
EGYPTE 
Le present document contient le textel de la Loi unifiee sur la protection des droits de 
propriete intellectuelle (Loi nO 82), adoptee le 3 juin 2002, qui a ete notifiee par l'Egypte au titre de 
l'article 63:2 de l'Accord dans une communication de sa delegation datee du 22 mai 2003. Cette 
traduction est en cours de revision. 
Consejo de los Aspectos de los Derechos de Propiedad 
Intelectual relacionados con el Comercio 
PRINCIPALES LEYES Y REGLAMENTOS DEDICADOS A LA 
PROPIEDAD INTELECTUAL NOTIFICADOS EN VIRTUD 
DEL pARRAFO 2 DEL ARTICULO 63 DEL ACUERDO 
EGlPTO 
En el presente documento se reproduce el textol de la Ley unificada sobre la proteccion de los 
derechos de propiedad intelectual (Ley N° 82), promulgada el 3 de junio de 2002, que Egipto notifico 
en virtud del parrafo 2 del articulo 63 del Acuerdo en una comunicacion de su Delegacion de fecha 
22 de mayo de 2003. Se esta revisando actualmente esta traduccion. 
I In English only'/En anglais seulement.!En ingles solamente. IPINIlIEGY/II 1 
Page 2 
LAW ON THE PROTECTION 
OF I~'rrELLECTUA_L PROPERTY RTGHTS 
BOOK ONE 
Patents and utility Models, Layout-Designs for Integrated Circuits, 
and Undisclosed Information 
PART I 
PATENTS fu~D UTILITY MODELS 
Article 1 
A patent shall be granted, in accordance with the provisions of this Law, to any 
industrially applicable invention, which is new, involves an inventive step, whether COIh"'1ected 
with new industrial products, new industrial processes, or a new application of known 
industrial processes. 
Tile patent is also granted, independently, for any modification, improvement or 
addition to a previously patented invention, which meets the criteria of being new, inventive 
and industTially applicable, as sTated in the preceding paragraph; in which case the patent shall 
be granted, under the provisions of tbis Law, to the owner of the modification, improvement 
or addition. 
(1) 
(2) 
('"1) \.J 
(4) 
(5) Au-ucIe 2 
Patents shall Qot be granted for: 
uWfmions whose exploitation is likely to be contrary to public order or moraliry, or 
prejudicial to the environment, human, animal or plant life and health. 
Discoveries, scientific theories, mathematical methods, programs and schemes. 
Diagnostic, therapeutic and surgical methods for humans and animals. 
Plants and animals, regardless of their rarity or peculiarity, and essentially biological 
processes for the production of plants or animals, other than microorganisms, non­
biological and microbiological processes for the production of plants or animals. 
Organs, tissues, live cells, natural biological substill'1ces, nuclear acid 3....'1d genome. 
Article 3 
_fv1 invention shall not be considered wholly or parcly :1ew: IP/N/l/EGYIIIl 
Page 3 
(i) if, before the filing date of the patent application, a patent application has been 
5.1ed for the same invention or a patent was already issued in or outside Eg~:pt for the 
inyention or part thereof; 
(ii) if, before the filing date of the patent application, the inventiorl 'Vvas used publicly 
if or outside Egypt, or the description of which was disclosed in a manner so as a person 
hJving expertise in the art is able to exploit it. 
According to the provisions of the preceding iuticle, disclosure shall Ilot include 
displaying the invention in national or international exhibitions within the six months before 
the date on which the application was filed. 
The Regulations shall specify the conditions and the procedures tor the disclosure of a 
patent. 
ArticIe4 
Without prejudice to the international conventions in force in Egypt, any natural person 
or legal entity, Egyptiall or foreign, belonging to, domiciled or active in a country or an entity 
that is a member of the World Trade Organization or that applies reciprocity to Egypt, shall 
have the right to apply for a patent at the Egyptian Patent Office, and enjoy whatever rights 
derived therefrom, in conformity wrih the provisions oftrus Law. 
Nationals of all member countries of the World Trade Organization shall benefit from 
any advantage, preference, privilege or immunity granted by any other law to nationals of any 
state in connection with the rights provided for in this Chapter, unless such advantage, 
preference or immunity derives from: 
(One)agreements on judicial assistance or agreement on law enforcement of general nature; 
(Two) agreements in connection with the protection of intellectual property rights which 
came into force prior to the 1 si of January 1995. 
Article 5 
The Patent Office shall establish a special register to record patent applications, utility 
models and all related data, exploitation and application thereof, in conformity with the 
provisions of this Law, as set out in its Regulations. 
Article 6 
The rig,1-:lt to the paLent shall belong to the inventor or his successor LT} title. 
lftvio or more persons have joimly made an invc:ulion, the right to the Datem shall 
belong to them joimly and equally, unless t:hey have agreed mhenvlse. 
rfmore LL~an ODe ,)erSOD have made the same inventioIl indecendemlv the G2ht to the 
..J.. .). ..J' - ~ '-' 
paTent shall belong to [he person who was first TO apply for a pate:1t IP/N/l!EGY!Ill 
Page 4 
Article 7 
If a person commiss;'GTIs another to make a specific invention, all rights derived from 
such an invention shall belong the fanner. Likewise, t[:f~ employer shall have all the rights 
derived from the inventions discovered by the worker or the employee during the period of 
work relationship or employment, insofar as the invemjDu falls within the scope of the work 
contract, relationship or employment. 
The name ofthe inventor shall be mentioned in the patent, and he shall be remunerated 
in all cases. If such remuneration was not agreed on, he shall be entitled to a fair 
compensation from the person who requested the invention, or from the employer. 
In cases other than the preceding, where the inyention is part of the activities of the 
public or private establishment to which the inventor is attached, the employer shall have the 
choice either to exploit the invention, or to acquire the patent against a fair comp;;:nsation paid 
to the inventor, provided the choice is made within three months from the date of notifying 
the grant of the patent. 
In all cases, the invention shall be attributed to the inventor. 
Article 8 
The application for patent filed by an inventor within one year from the termination of 
his employment in a private or public establishment, shall be considered as filed during the 
work or <::mployment contract. Both the inventor and the employer shall be entitled to all the 
rights stipUlated in the preceding article, as appropriate. 
Such a period shall extend to three years ifthe said worker establishes orjoins a 
competing estabLishment and the invention is the direct result of that worker's a.ctivity and 
previous experience in the establishment in which he was working. 
Article 9 
The protection period a patent shall be 20 years as afthe date of filing the application in 
Egypt. 
Article 10 
A patent shall confer on its owner the right to prevent a third party from exploiting the 
invention by any means. 
The right of a patent owner to prevent a third party from importing, using, selling or 
distributing a product shall lapse when he cOIIUl1ercializes the product in any country or 
amhorizes a third party to do SQ. 
The following shall not be considered as infungemems ofthat right when cairied out by 
~hird p 3Iti es : 
ActiviTies carried om for scientific research purposes. IP/NIllE GY/II1 
Page 5 
(2) Vihere a third party proceeded, in Egypt, in good faith, with the making of a product or 
use of a process or made serious preparations for such activities prior to the date of an 
application for patent by another person for the same product or process. The former shall, 
notwithstanding the grant of patent, l-,:2ve th.e ri&1.t to continue with such activities only wi~1lln 
his enterprise and without extending the scope of those activities. Such right shall not be 
assigned or transferred wit.1.out the other elements of the enterprise. 
(3) Indirect uses of the production process, subject of the invention, in order to obtain other 
products. 
(4) Use of the invention on a land vehicle, vessel or aircraft belonging to a country or entity 
member of the World Trade Organization, or a country that applies reciprocity to Egypt, when 
such a land vehicle, vessel or aircraft is temporarily or accidentally present in Egypt. 
(5) INhere a third party proceeds, during the protection period of a product, with its 
manufacturing, assembly, use or sale, with a view to obtain a marketing license, provided that 
the marketing starts after the expiry of such a protection period. 
(6) A.ny other acts by third pa.."1ies, provided that they shall not unreasonably h3.tuper the 
normal exploitation of the patent, and shall not be unreasonably prejudicial to the legitimate 
interests of the patent owner, taking into consideration the legitimate interests of others. 
Article 11 
A fee shall be paid on filing a patent application. A progressive annual fee shall also be 
paid as of the second year until the expiration of the patent protection period. 
The amount of such fees, to be determined in the Regulations, shall not exceed 2,000 
pounds fDr the initial application or 1,000 pounds for the annual fee. 
Cases for the reduction or waiver ofthese fees shall also be prescribed in the 
Regulations. 
The patent applicant shall pay the fees of experts called upon by the Patent Office as 
well as examination costs. 
Article 12 
The patent application shall be filed by the inventor or his successor in title with the 
Patent Office, in accordance with the terms and conditions prescribed by the Regulations. An 
application may not contain more tha.'1 one invention. A group of inventions so liPJced as to 
form an integrated inventive concept shall be considered as one invention. 
Article 13 
The patent application shall be accompanied by a detailed description ofille invention, 
including a full statement of the subject matter a.'1d of the best way to enable 3J.1 person of 
expertise [0 execute it, a.'1d of each prodUCT or method for which prmecc:ion is saueht. - - -IPINllIEGYIIJl 
Page 6 
The description shall also include in a clear manner the new elements for which the 
applicant seeks protection accompanied, where necessary, by an illustrative drawing of thr 
invention. 
Vlhere the invention involves biological, plant or animal product, or traditional 
medicinal, agricuitural, industrial or handicraft knowledge, cultural or environmental heril;:~:-~e, 
the inventor ShOllJd have acquired the sources in a legitimate manner. 
Wl1ere the invention involves microorganisms, the applicant shall disclose the identity 
of such organisms and deposit a live culture thereof with the authority designated in the 
Regulations. 
Without prejudice to the provisions of Article 38 of this Law, the applicant shall:--111 all 
cases, provide full data and iniormation on any applications relating to the same invention or 
its subject matter, that he previously filed abroad, as well as the outcome of such 
. applications. 
The Regulations shall determine the required annexes to be attached to the patent 
application, the time limits for their submission and as well as the conditions justifying its 
refusal. 
Article 14 
The Patent Office may, as stipulated in the Regulations, require the applicant to make 
any amendments or complements which it shall deem necessary to comply wit..1. the 
provisions of Article 13. Ifthe applicant fails to comply within three months of notification, 
he shall be considered as having withdrawn his application. 
The applicant may, within 30 days and in accordance with the conditions stipulated in 
the Regulations, appeal such request by the Patent Office before the Committee provided for 
inA.-ticle 36,. 
Article 15 
The applicant may, at any time, before the publication of application acceptance, 
present a request to amend the description or the drawing of the invention, with an indication 
as to the nature of and reasons for such an amendment, provided that such amendment shall 
not effect the substance of the invention. In this connection, the same procedure as that for 
patent application shall apply. 
Article 16 
The PaTent Office shall examine the patent application and its 3.J.'1llexes in order to 
ascertain that the invention is new, involves an inventive step and is industrially applicable, in 
confoIITIity with the provisions of i\Stides 1, 2 and 3 of this Law. 
\A/here the invention satisfies u~e aforementioned conditions, and where the conditions 
nrovided for in i'.JLicles 12 and 13 are fulfilled in the Datent anplication [he Patent Office 
.J.. r ). , 
shall publish the application accept3.J.lce, in the Patent Gazette, in che ill3.J.ll1er prescribed in the 
Regulari ons. IPINI l/EGY!IJ 1 
Page 7 
Any concerned party may submit to the Patent Office, within 60 lays from the 
publication ofthe application acceptance in the Patent Gazette, and at::ording to the 
procedure prescribed by the Regulations, a 'written notice TO oppose ;:ht granting the patent, 
stating the reasons therefor. 
Such an opposition shall be subject to the payment of a fee, to be fixed by the 
Regulations, of not less than 100 pounds and not more than 1,000 pouDds, which 
will be reimbursed in case the opposition is accepted. 
Oppositions shall be examined by the Committee established under A .... rticle 36, in 
accordance with the conditions and procedures stipulated in the Regulations. 
Article 17 
The Patent Office shall send to the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Military 
Production, the Ministry of Interior or the Ministry of Health, as required, copies of patent 
applications, with their annexes, that relate to defense, military production, security matters or 
that have a military, security or health significance, within 10 days from the examination of 
the application, notifying the applicant thereof within 7 days. The MinisTer of De fen se, the 
Minister of Military Production, the Minister of Interior or the Minister of Health, as might be 
the case, may, wit.1lin 90 days from the date of notification, oppose the publication of the 
application acceptance. 
Where the acceptance of the application is made public; the competent Minister may 
oppose the procedure to grant a patent within 90 days from the date of the publication, in the 
Patent Gazette, ofthe decision to acceptthe patent application, ifit appears that the 
application relates to defense, military production, security or is of military, security or health 
significance. 
Opposition in the aforementioned cases shall stop the procedure of granting the patent. 
Article 18 
A Drug Price Stability Fund, having a legal entity and reporting to the Minister of 
. Health and Population, shall be established to maintain stability in the prices of drugs -other 
than export drugs -with a view to achieve health development a..'1d to guarantee that drug 
prices are not affected by incidental changes. The organization and resources of the fund shall 
be determined by a decree to be issued by the President of the Republic. Such resources shall 
include contributions from donor states and intergovernmental and non-governmental 
organizations, as agreed by the State. 
Article 19 
The gra.ll.t of a patent is pub lished aner one year from the date of filing the application 
md remains confidential during this period. 
Tile patenT is granted by Cl decision or the competent Minister or his delegated official 
md shall be published in che Patent Gazette in accordance ivith the provisions prescribed by 
the :;Zcg-ulmions. IP/N/l/EGY/I/l 
Page 8 
ArticIe:W 
After the publication of the acceptance ofth'~ patent application, any person may consult 
tbe application and its supporting documents, llild ?cny entries thereon in tbe patent register; 
and may obtain copies ofthe above documents aga:inst the payment of a fee prescribed by the 
Regulations, not exceeding 1,000 pounds, and according to the conditions and procedures 
prescribed therein. 
Article 21 
The ownership of a patent may be transf~rred, wholly or partly, with or without 
compensation. It may also be subject to mortgage or rigt~t ef disposal. 
Without prejudice to the provisions pertaining to the sale and mortgage of commercial 
establishments, the ownership of a patent may not be transferred, mortgaged or disposed of to 
a third party before the date on which such transfer, mortgage or disposal is recorded in the 
pa~ent register. 
The publication ofthe transfer of ownership, mortgage or usufruct shall be made 
accord:i.ilblO the conditions prescribed by the Regulations. 
Article 22 
A creditor may seize patents belonging to his debtor in conformity with the provisions 
concerning seizure of movable garnished assets. The PatentOffice shall be exempt from the 
provisions relating to the declaration by the gamishee of the amount in his possession due to 
the ga...~sher. 
The creditor shall notify the Patent Office of the seizure and the results of the public 
auction to be recorded in the register. The said seizure and results of the public auction shall 
not be invoked against a third party before the date of its being duly recorded. 
The seizure shall be published in the manner prescribed by the Regulations. 
Article 23 
The Patent Office may, subject to the approval of a ministerial committee to be 
established by a decision of the Prime Minister, grant non-volunt3..c; licenses for the 
exploitation of an invention. The committee decides the financial ri~l}ts of the patent owner 
when such licenses are issued, in any of the following cases: 
(1) 'Where the competent Minister finds -under the circumstances -that the exploitation 
of the patent will benefit the following: 
(a) Public non-commercial interest. This includes the presen'ation of national 
securiry, health, enVirOILTDent and food safety. 
Cb) Cases of emergency or circumstances of extreme urgency. IPINIlIEGYIII1 
Page 9 
A non-voluntary license: to counter the conditions mentioned in items 1 and 2 is granted 
without prior negotiations with the ?atent owner or after a certain period of negotiations with 
the patent owner or offering reasonable conditions to acquire his agreement to me 
exploitation. 
(c) Support of national efforts in vital sectors for economic, social and techn910gical 
development, without unreasonable prejudice to the rights of the patent owner 
and taking into consideration the legitimate interests of third patties. 
In cases stated in items 1 and 3, the O\vner of the patent shall be notified promptly of the 
decision of non-voluntary exploitation, and as soon as reasonably practicable in cases stated 
in item 2 . 
(2) Upon the request ofthe Minister of Health, when the quantity of patented medicines 
made available fail to adequately meet the national needs, due to their poor quality or ifthey 
are offered at a prohibitive price, or if the patent is related to medicines addressing critical 
cases, incurable or endemic diseases or products used in the prevention ofthese diseases, or 
where the invention is related to the medicines, their manufacturing process, the raw 
materials necessary for their preparation or the process of manufacturing of those materials. 
In all these cases, the decision of granting non-voluntary Jicense shall be notified 
promptly to the owner of the patent. 
(3) Where the patent owner refuses to grant license to a third party seeking the exploitation 
of the invention, whatever the purpose of the exploitation, and despite the offer of suitable 
terms and the lapse of reasonable negotiation time., 
In this case, the party requesting the non-voluntary license shall provide evidence that 
he has made serious efforts to obtain a voluntary license from the patent owner. 
(4) If the owner of the patent fails to exploit the invention in Egypt, himself or through his 
consent; or if the patent was not sufficiently exploited after the lapse of four years since the 
date of the application or three years since the grant of the patent, whichever comes later; or if 
the patent owner suspended, without a valid reason, the exploitation of the patent for more 
than one year. 
The exploitation of a patent shall be through the manufacturing of the patented product 
or the use of the patented process in Egypt. 
Nevertheless, where the Patent Office finds that, despite the expiration of either of the 
above mentioned time limits, failure to exploit the invention was due to legal, technical or 
economic reasons beyond the power of the O\Vller of the patent, it may decide to allow him a 
sufficient period of grace for lL"le exploitaTion of the invemion. 
(5) If it is determined that the patent oVYTIer has abused. of or exercised the ;ights conferred 
by the patent in a m2Tiller that is conn-ary to fair competition, such 2.S: 
Ca) Fixing exorbitant :Jrices Tor the Datemed Droduets or Dreferenrial treat;:nent of 
• ~ ~ .J.. 
agents with regards to prices and sales condiTions. IPINIl/EGYfIll 
Page 10 
(b) Failure to supply the local market with the patented product, or supplyipg it 
under prohibitive terms. 
(c~; Stopping the production of the patented item or its production in a 
disproportionate manner, given the production capacity and the rnark::j-neeOs. 
(d) Undertaking acts or practices which have adverse effect on the free competition, 
according to the prescribed legal norms. 
(e) Exercising of the rights conferred by the this Law in a manner that adversely 
affects the transfer oftechnology. 
In all above cases, the non-voluntacj license is granted without recourse to negotiation. 
or the expiry of a time limit thereto, even if the non-voltmtary license is not intended to 
satisfythe needs of the domestic market. 
The Patent Office may refuse to terminate the non-voluntary license, where the 
conditions that called for it are likely to remain or to reoccur. 
The compensation due to the owner of the patent shall take into account the prejudice 
caused by his arbitrary or unfair competitic~l practices. 
The Patent Office may revoke the patent if, tvvo years after the grant of a non-voluntary 
license, it became clear that the grant of that license was not adequate to remedy the adverse 
effects caused to the national economy by the r the patent owner's abuse of his rights or his 
unfair competition practices. 
Any concerned party may challenge the revocation of a patent before the Committee 
provided for in Article 36, and in accordance with the conditions ruld procedures prescribed 
in the Regulations. 
(6) Where the exploitation of an invention by the legitimate patent holder requires 
inevitably the use of another invention, underlying concrete technical advance as well as 
technical and economical significance compared to the other, he shall be entitled to obtain a 
non-voluntary license for the exploitation of me other invention, in which case the other 
patent holder shall equally have the same right. 
The licensed exploitation of one patent may not be assigned without the corresponding 
assignment of the other. 
(7) The ~ant of a non-voluntary license in the field of semi-conductor technology shall be 
authorized for public non-commercial purposes only, or to remedy the consequences of any 
unfair competition practices. 
The gr2]]1 ofnon-volumary licenses in the cases provided for in this }\..L'Licle, shall be in 
accordallce \'YiL.1 the rules ruld procedur:::s prescribed in Ille Reg'~laLions. Article 24 IPINI 1 IEGYIV 1 
Page 11 
Where a non-voluntary license is to be issued, the following elements shall be taken into 
account: 
(I) A request for the grant of the non-volunta...ry license shall Le; considered on the merits of 
each case. The license shall mainly seek to satisfy the needs of the domestic market. 
(2) The requesting party shall prove that he has made serious attempts during a reasonable 
period of time to obtain a voluntary license from the patent holder against fair 
compensation, and that he failed. 
(3) The patent ovmer may, within one month from his notification of the grant of the 
license, appeal to the Committee provided for in Article 36 and in accordance with the 
conditions and procedures stipulated by the Regulations, against the decision to grant 
the non-voluntary license to a third party. 
(4) The party requesting the grant of a non-voluntary license, or the party to whom a non­
voluntary license is granted, must have the capacity to efficiently exploit the invention 
in Egypt. 
(5) The licensee must abide by the scope, terms and period prescribed by the decision 
granting the such a license. The Patent Office may extend the duration of the license ifit 
expires without achieving its purpose. 
(6) The use of the non-voluntary license shall be limited to the applicant; the Patent Office 
may however grant it to a third party. 
(7) The beneficiary shall not assign the rights of a non-voluntary license to a third party 
except with the enterprise or the part related to the exploitation ofthe patent. 
(8) The patent owner shall be entitled to a fair compensation for the exploitation of his 
invention. The amount of the compensation shall be fixed on the basis of the economic 
value ofthe invention. He shall have the right to appeal against the compensation 
assessment, within 30 days of being notified the decision, before the Committee 
provided for in Article 36, in accordance with the rules and procedures prescribed by 
the Regulations. 
(9) The non-voluntary license shall lapse on the expiry of its duration. Nonetheless, the 
Patent Office may decide to terminate the non-voluntary license if the reasons which led 
to its grant cease to exist and are unlikely to reoccm; in which case, the procedure 
prescribed by the Regulations shall apply. 
(10) The patent owner may request the tennination of the non-voluntary license before its 
expiry, if the reasons which led to d:s grant cease to exist ai'1d are uIllikely to reoccur. 
(11) Where a Don-vollli'l.tary license is tenninated before its term, u~e legitimate interests of 
the licensee shall be taken into account. IPIN/l/EGYIVl 
Page 12 
(12) The non-voluntary license may be terminated or its terms amended by the Patent Office, 
or upon a request from any interested p2.rty, if within two years after the grant of me 
non-voluntary license, the licensee fail:.; to exploit the subject matter ofthe license or to 
meet his obligations as prescribed by th:~ license. 
Article 25 
Patents may be expropriated by decision of the competent Minister -subject to the 
approval of the ministerial committee referred to in .Du-tide 23 -on grounds relating to 
national defense and in cases of emergency which the grant of a non-voluntary license is 
insufficient to counter. 
The expropriation may be limited to the rig.t1t of exploitation only to satisfy the needs of 
the State. 
In all cases, the expropriation shall be against a fair compensation, to be assessed by the 
committee provided for in Article 36 and on the basis of the economic value of the patent at 
the time the expropriation decision is made. 
The expropriation decision shall be published in the Patent Gazette. The decision of me 
expropriation and that of the compensation assessment conmrittee may be appealed before 
the Administrative Court, within 60 days from the date of notification of the decision to the 
interested party, by means of a registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt. The COlli""i 
shall decide on such an appeal expeditiously. 
Article 26 
The rights conferred by a patent shall lapse and fall into the public domain under the 
following conditions: 
(1) Expiration of the protection period according to Article 9. 
(2) Relinquishment by the patent holder ofbs rights without prejudice to the rights of third 
parties. 
(3) Final decision taken revoking the patent. 
(4) Failure to pay, within one year from the due date, the annual fees or the overdue penalty 
of7% of the annual fees, after notificalion of payment according to the procedure 
prescribed by the Regulations. 
(5) Where the inver'Arion is not exploited in Egypt within two years following me grant of a 
non-voluntilij license and upon a request by any interested party submitted to the 
Patent Office. 
(6) Abuse by the patent owner ofilis rights, where ::he n8n-vol'mIary license is insuffIcient 
to remedy that abuse. IP/N/l IEGYIII 1 
Page 13 
Reference to patents whose owners' rights are terminated according to the previous 
provisions shall be pubbshed in the Patent Gazette, in the manner prescribed b-y the 
Regulations. 
Article 27 
The Administrative Tribunal shall be competent to consider claims relating to patent 
decisions. 
Article 28 
The Administrative Tribunal may decide, upon request form the Patent Office or an 
interested party, to aciJ any data to the Register which could have been omitted or to modify 
any data included therein which is contrary to the fact or to omit any data unlawfully 
inscribed therein. 
Tne Patent Office, or any interested party, may request the Tribunal to repeal patents 
granted in violation to iuiicIes 2 and 3. The said Office shall revoke such patents on receipt of 
a final decision. 
~t\rticIe 29 
A utility model patent shall be granted, under this Law for any new tecbnical addition in 
the structure or composition of devices, tools, equipment or their components, or products, 
processes or means of manufacturing the above, and the like that is in current use. 
The applicant may convert his application into a patent application, and the patent 
applicant may also convert his application to a utility model application. 
In both cases the date of the original application shall prevaiL 
The Patent Office may, spontaneously, convert the application for a utility model to an 
application for a patent, when the relevant requirements are met. 
Article 30 
The protection period of a utility model shall be for a non-renewable period of seven 
years starting from the filing date of the application for the utiiity model with me Patent 
Office in Egypt. 
Article 31 
A fees shall be payable on filing a utility model application, and a progressive fu'1I1ual 
fee shall be paid starting from the second year until Ihe expiry of the protection period. 
The lZeg'-11ations OI~ this Law shall fix the fu'TIOunt of such fees, which shall not exceed 
1,000 pounds for each application, 2.S well as the conditions for the reduction fuld waiver of 
such fees. IPINIlIEGYIII1 
Page 14 
Article 32 
. Without prejudice to the provisions of Juticle 10, shall be subject to a [Lie: of not less 
thaq .20,000 pounds and not more than 100,000 pounds any party who undertaI:tk 
(l)~he imitation, for commercialization purposes, of the subject matter of an invention or a 
~lti1ity model for which a patent has been granted in accordance with the provisions of 
this Law; 
(2) the sale, offer for sale or circulation, importation or possession with the intention to 
trade, of products known to that party as imitations, where the patent for the invention 
or the utility model for such products is granted and valid in Egypt; 
(3) the unlawful use, on products, advertisements, trademarks, packaging or others, of 
indications that may lead to believe that such a party has obtained a patent for an 
invention or a utility model. 
Repetition ofthe offense shall be punishable by imprisonment for a period of no more 
than two years and by a fine of not less than 40,000 pounds and not more than 200,000 
pounds. 
In all cases, the court shall order the seizure ofthe infringLTJ.g imitated products and the 
implements used in the imitation. The conviction decision shall be published in one or more 
daily newspapers, at the expense of the convicted party. 
Article 33 
The holder of a patent or a utility model may request the president of the competent 
court, as may be the case, to order conservatory measures against products or goods that are 
claimed to imitate a patented product, according to the detailed description established in the 
patent or utility model document. The necessary conservatory measures shall be ordered to 
preserve such products and goods in their state. 
The aforementioned order may be issued before instituting the proceedings. Such order 
shall lapse if the proceedings are not instituted \vithin 8 days from t.~e date of the injunction. 
Article 34 
The identical product shall be deemed to be obtained by the patented process, if the 
plaintiff could prove in his civil proceedings: 
(1) that the identical product was made by the direct use of the patented process; or 
that he has exerted reasonable efforts to determine the process actually used in the 
production. In such a case, the coun may require ~he defendant to provide evidence Ihat 
the identical product was made by a process other [han the patemed process o\vned by 
the plaimiff. 
In requiring rhe production of evidence, the coun shall take into aCCOUilI ':he legitimate 
interest ofthe defendant iD prOlecting his manurac::'uring and business seC-Cls. Article 35 IPINIl/EGY IIJI 
Page 15 
The president of the competent court dealing with the merits ofthe case may, at the 
request of any interested pa..'1:y and on petition, order ont:'pr more of the appropriate 
consenratory measures to ensure the payment of the dedse:d fines or damages. He may also 
order destruction of the objects in question, where necessL1ry. 
Article 36 
A committee shall be established by decision of the competent minister and shall be 
empowered to examine appeals against decisions m2ic.e by the Patent Office in application of 
the provisions of this Law. The committee shall be composed of a chairman who shall be a 
consultant at the appeal courts or of a corresponding rank from the judiciary, an assistant 
consultant ofthe State Council and three experts as members. 
Fees of not more than 500 pounds shall be fixed by the Regulations for appeals brought 
before the committee. 
The committee shall decide on an appeal within 60 days from the date of its filing. The 
decisions of the committee shall be [maL 
Apart from revocation requests combined with an order to waive execution, no 
complaints against decisions of the Patent Office may be brought to court before a decision 
was taken on the appeal, or within 60 days from filing the appeal if not decided. 
The Regulations shall fix the rules of procedure of this Committee. 
Artide 37 
The decision of the Committee, provided for in iDticle 36, may be the subject of an 
appeal by the Patent Office or any interested party before the Administrative Tribunal within 
60 days from the date of notification of the Patent Office or the interested party of the 
decision by registered mail with aclmowledgement of receipt. The Tribunal shall decide on 
the appeal expeditiously. 
Article 38 
If a. patent application is filed in a. country or by an entity member of the World Trade 
Organization or a country that applies reciprocity to Egypt, the applicant or the successor of 
his rights may, during the first year following L'le filing date ofti1.e application, file a similar 
application with the Patent Office in Egypt for the same subject matter and in conformity with 
terms and conditions provided for in this Law and its Regulations. 1""1 this case, for the 
purpose of determining precedence, the date afthe nrst application in the foreign counti-y 
shall prevaiL IP/N/l/EGYIIJ1 
Page 16 
Article 39 
Staff of the Patent OffiGe may not file patent applications personally or an intermediate 
until at least three years from 'the date of termination of their employment in the Office. 
Article 40 
The provisions applicable to invention patents shall apply to any matter which is not 
specifically provided for in relation to patents of utility models. 
Article 41 
Provisions of this Law shall apply to any application filed with the Patent Office and 
which has not been granted a patent before the entry into force of this Law. The applicant may 
amend his application in conformity with the provisions of this Law. 
The protection period prescribed by this Law shall apply to any patent not expired on 
the day of its entry into force, so as to extend the protection period in conformity with the 
period stipulated in Article 9 of this Law. 
Article 42 
The Minister of Justice, in agreement with the competent wjnister, shall determine the 
persons empowered with judicial authority to enforce the provisions contained in this Book. 
Article 43 
The Patent Office shall receive patent applications with regard to food-related 
agrochemical products and to pharmaceuticals, and shall rnaintai.rl such applications, along 
with applications relating to the same products and filed as of 1 st January 1995, pending their 
examination as of 1 st January 2005. 
In the case of a patent granted for the inventions relating to the products mentioned in 
the preceding paragraph, the protection shall begin from the date of granting the patent until 
the end ofthe period provided for in Article 9, calculated from the date of application_ 
Article 44 
Without prejudice to the date set for the examination of patent applications relating to 
the products mentioned in Article 43, the applicant shall be emitled to request from the 
competent public authority to be granted exclusive marketing rights for his product in Egypt, 
provided that: 
Cl) the applicant has submitted an apphcation for this product 1:0 the Patent Office in Egypt as 
of IS 1 of January 1995; 
(2) the same product was patented in a country member ofIhe Vlodd Trade Organizarion on 
u1.e basis of ili'1 application submitted in [h2.t country as of 1 SI January 1995; 
(3) the appliCZl.iit has obtained L~e approval for L.'le circulation of u'12.t product in the same 
coumry where he was graIlled me patent as of 1 st January 1995; IPINIl/EGYIV1 
Page 17 
(4) the appliC3..L1t has obtained the approval of the competent ministry for the circulation of 
that product within Egypt; 
The Patent Office in Egypt shall grant an exclusive marketing right certificate upon the 
approval of a ministerial committee established for this purpose by a decision ofthe Prime 
Minister. 
The exclusive marketing right shall not be granted when it is clear, prima jacie, from 
the papers submitted to the Patent Office to obtain the exclusive marketing right, that the 
patent application has been filed with the Office was already published one year plior to the 
date offlling the request. 
Wnere an exclusive marketing rights have been granted by the competent public 
authority, the applicant shall enjoy such rights for his product until a decision is rendered by 
the Egyptian Patent Office on the patent application, or for a period of five years as from the 
date of approval to grant him such rights, whichever comes first. 
A previously gr3.J.""1ted exclusive marketing right shall be revoked by a decision ofthe 
competent ministry which has approved the circulation or where the owner of such right 
abuses its exercise. IPINIlIEGYIII1 
Page 18 
PART II 
LAYDUT DESIGNS OF L~TEGRt\TED CIRCUITS 
Article 45 
For the purpose of this Law, "integrated circuit" means a product, in its final form or an 
intermediate form, in which the elements, at least one of which is an active element, and some 
or all of the interconnections are integrally fonned on a piece of isolating material aad which 
is intended to perform a specific electronic function. 
Layout desigIl means also the three dimensional disposition prepared for an integrated 
circuit intended for manufacturing. 
Article 46 
Protection under this Law may be obtained for original layout designs of integrated 
circuits. 
A layout design shall be considered to be new if it is the result of its creator's own 
intellectual effort and is not part of the general knowled.ge; common among professionals of 
the relevant industrial art . 
Nevertheless, a layout design consisting of elements that are part of the general 
knowledge common among professionals of the relevant industrial art shall also be considered 
new, if the combination of its components and their interconnections are in themselves 
original. 
Article 47 
Protection shall not apply to any concept, process, technology or any coded information 
stored in the layout design of an integrated circuit. 
Article 48 
The protection period of a layout design shall be ten years from the date when the 
application for the registration was filed in Egypt or ten years fromlhe date when it was first 
commercially exploited in Egypt or abroad, whichever comes first 
In all cases, the protection of a layout design shall cease 15 years from the date 0 fits 
creation. 
Article 49 
/\pplication for the registration with the Patent Office of a layout design shall be filed 
by iTS OIvner and shall be accompanied by a picture or a drawing ili"'ld a sample of each 
integrated circuit that has been commercially exploited along with li1e information illustrating 
Lht electronic function of the imegrated circuit. IP/N/I/EGYIVl 
Page 19 
The applicant may, however, exclude such part or parts of the design pro-.;ided that the 
parts submitted are sufficient to identify the layout design and its function. 
The Patent Office shall maintain a register in which it shall record all J,pplications 
acsording to the rules and procedure prescribed by the Regulations. Each application shall be 
Sl'.Oject to the payment of fees, as determined in the Regulations, not exceed;ng 1,000 
pounds. 
The application shall not be accepted if it is filed after two years from the date of its first 
commercial exploitation, within or outside Egypt, by the owne::-of the right. 
Article 50 
No natural person or legal entity shall perform lli"1y of the following acts without a prior 
written authorization by the owner of the right to a protected layout design: 
(1) Reproducing, whether by incorporation in an integrated circuit or otherwise, the whole 
or any part of the protected layout design. 
(2) Importation, sale or distribution of the layout design for the purpose of trade, whether 
separately, as part of an integrated circuit or as a component of a product. 
Article 51 
Without prejudice to the protection provisions prescribed in this Chapter, a natural 
person or alegal entity may, without the authorization ofthe right owner, undertake one or 
more of the following acts: 
(l) Reproduction or commercial exploitation, which includes importing, selling or 
distributing, of an integrated circuit that includes a protected layout design or a product 
in wEch such an integrated circuit is used, if such an act is done by a person who did 
not know, or was not in a position to know, at the time ofthe act that such an integrated 
circuit or product incorporate a protected layout design. 
In such a case, the acquirer may, against payment of a fair compensation to the right 
owner, dispose of any stock or amounts ordered, upon his notification by the rig,.1t owner, by a 
registered letter with aclmowledgement of receipt, that the integrated circuit or the product in 
his possession contains a protected layout design. 
(2) Personal use or for the purpose oftest, examination, analysis, teaching, training or 
scientific research of the protected layout design. Wnere such use leads to the creation 
of a new layout design, the creator shall be entitled to have it protected. 
(3) Creation of a layout design, identical with anot.c"ler protected layout design, as a result 
of independent efforts. 
(4) Lmponing a prmected layout design or an integrated circuit which was produced using 
a protected layout design, \vhether &.is circcllt was separate or incorporated in a product, 
and whether the product contains m ir"tegrated circuit comaining a protected layout 
design, whenever any was circulated in Eg"ypt or abroad. IPIN/l/EGYIIIl 
Page 20 
Article 52 
The Patent Office may decide to grant, to a third pt.{rty, a non-voluntary license for u"1e 
exploitation of a protected layout design according to the provisions of the non-voluntary 
license of patents provided for in Articles 23 and 24. 
Article 53 
,t'\ny violation of Article 50 shall be punishable by a fine of not less than 40,000 pounds 
and of not more than 100,000 pounds. 
In case of repetition, the offense shall be pu:;:isnable by imprisonment for a period of not 
more than t"lO years and by a fine of not more than 200,000 pmll1ds. 
Article 54 
The provisions of Articles 4, 33, 35 and 42 shall apply to this Chapter. PART III 
UNDISCLOSED INFORMATION 
Article 55 IPIN/l/EGYlLl1 
Page 21 
Undisclosed information sh?..!.ll be protected under the provisions of this Law when they 
meet the following criteria: 
(1) Information which is confidential, in the sense that it is not, as a body or in the precise 
configuration or assembly of its components, generally known or common among those 
involved in the industrial art within the scope of which the information falls, 
(2) Information that has commercial val'2e because it is coniid;,;ntial. 
(3) Information that depends on the effective measures taken by the person lawfully in 
control of it, to keep it confidential. 
Article 56 
Protection conferred by the provisions of this Law shall extend to undisclosed 
infonnation that involved a considerable effort, submitted on reque::;-;: to the competent 
authorities for marketing of pharmaceutical or agrochemical products which utilize new 
chemical components necessary for the tests undertaken to allow such marketing. 
The competent authorities who receive such infonnation shall protect it against 
disclosure and unfair commercial use from the date of its submission to the competent 
authorities until it is no longer confidential, or for a period not exceeding five years, 
whichever comes first. 
Disclosure of information, by the competent authorities, where necessary to protect the 
public shall not be deemed to constitute an infringement of the information ovmer's rights. 
Article 57 
The person lawfully in control of undisclosed information shall take all appropriate 
measures to preserve the confidentiality of such information and prevent its circulation 
amongst unauthorized persons. 
He shall also be liable to organize and limit the circulation of such infonnation within 
the establishment to lawfully authorized persons, to preserve and prevent the leakage of such 
infonnation to Third parties. 
Tile person who is lawfully in control of such information shall Dot be exempt iicm 
Iiabiliry when others illiiinge the infonnation, unless he proves that he has exerted reasonable 
8J.l.d adequate efforts to preserve such information. 
The confidentiality of infonnation, and the attendant rights to prevent others from 
i,l-efringing such information, shall subsist insofar as the information is considered llildisclosed 
according to the provision of ~Luticle 55. IPINII/EGY/I/l 
Page 22 
The rights conferred on the person who is lawfully in control of undisclosed infonn;:n:ion 
shall be limited to the prevention of others from infringing such information by performir,g 
any act which is C'Jntrary to fair commercial practices, as stipulated in Article 58. The per;son 
who is lawfully i:n control may resort to court in case of proven perpetration by a third paT~Y 
of any ofthose acts. 
Article 58 
The following acts shall be deemed, in particular, to be contrary to fair commercial 
practices, and to constitute acts of unfair competition: 
(1) Bribery to acquire the information from employees working at the establishment which 
owns the information. 
(2) Incitement of employees to disclose information acquired by virtue of their 
employment. 
(3) Disclosure by a party in "confidential information contracts" of information thus 
acquired. 
(4) Acquisition of information, from the place where it is preserved, through illicit means, 
such as thefi,espionage or the like. 
(5) Acquisition of information tkoug.lI fraudulent means. 
(6) Use of information acquired by any of the previous means by a third party aware of its 
being confidential ili"J.d that it was acquired by one of the above means. 
Shall be deemed to constitute an act of infringement of undisclosed information, the 
consequences ofthe stated acts by way of disclosing, acquiring or using such information by a 
third party without being authorized by the lawful owner. 
Article 59 
The following acts shall not be deeilled to be contrary to fair commercial practices: 
(1) Acquisition of information from available public sources such as libraries, including 
(2) patent office libraries, public government records and published research, studies and 
reports. 
Acquisition of information by exertin2: personal independent efforts to extract 
J.. ~... "-
information through examination, testing and 2.,.T}alysis of products in circulation which 
incorporate the undisclosed information. 
Acquisition of information as a result of efforts or sciemific research, innovation, 
invemion. develoomem, modification and imDrDVemem exerTed bv persons 
_ J.. 0.. _' -'-
independently :l.om the o\vner of undisclosed information. IPIN/1/EGYlIll 
Page 23 
(4) Acquisition and use of known and available information which :.:;irculates among those 
involved in the industrial an within the scope of which the infcr-mation falls. 
Article 60 
The person who is lawfully in control oflll1disc1osed information., or his successor, may 
assign such infonnation to third pa...rties, against or without compensation. 
Article 61 
Without prejudice to any more severe plll1ishment stipulated under any other law, any 
person who uses an illegal means to disclose information protected by the provisions of this 
Law, acquire or use such an information while aware of its confideiltiality and that it was 
acquired by such illegal means, shall be punishable by a fine of not less than 10,000 pounds 
and not more than 50,000 pounds. 
In case of repetition, the punishment shall be an imprisonment for a period of not more 
than two years and a fine of not less than 50,000 pOlL."'1ds and not more than 100,000 pounds. 
l\.rti cl e 62 
The provisions of Articles 4, 33, 35 and 42 shall apply to this Chapter. IPINIlIEGYIII 1 
Page 24 
BOOK TWO 
MARKS, TRADENAMES, GE()G-RAPHICA.L INDICATIONS 
AND INDUSTHIA.L DESIGNS 
P.A.RT I 
MARKS, TRADENAMES AND 
GEOGRA.PHICAL INDICATIONS 
Article 63 
A trademark is any sign distinguishing goods, whether products or services, and iJ.""1clude 
in particular names represented in a distinctive manner, signatures, words, letters, numerals, 
designs, symbols, signposts, stamps, seals, drawings, engravings, a combination of distinctly 
fanned colors and any other combination ofthese elements if used, or meant to be used, to 
distinguish the products of a particular industry, agriCUltural, forest or mining venture or any 
goods, or to indicate the origin of products or goods, or their quality, category, guarantee, 
preparation process, or to indicate the provision of any service. 
In all cases, a trademark shall be a sign that is recognizable by sight 
Article 64 
The Department of Trade Registry shall be competent to register the trademarks in the 
special register of such marks, in accord2.11ce with the provisions of this Law and its 
Regulations, without prejudice to the provisioas of Articles 3 and 4 of Law No. 115 of 1958 
on correspondence and signposts imposing the use of .tuabic. 
Article 65 
The person who has registered a trademark and who has made use of it for a period of 
five years as ofthe date of its registration, shall be deemed the owner of such a trademark, 
wlless precedence of use by a third party is proven. 
A prior user ofthe mark may, within the said period of five years, challenge Lhe validity 
of its registration. 
The registration of a mark may, however, be challenged at any time, where the 
registration is made in bad faith. 
Article 66 
Without prejUdice to Lt1.e provisions of imernational conventions in force in Egypt, any 
natural person or legal entity, Egyptiwl or foreign, belonging IQ or having the cemer of his or 
its effective activitv in a countrY or emit\..)! member in the World Trade Or£fu'1ization or who 
~ J ~ 
applies reciprocity to Egypt, shall have ;:he rig..~t to apply for the registration of a trademark 
with the Department of Trade Regisrry in Egypt, with all attendant rights in conformity with 
L1e provisions of this Law. IPINIlfEGYlIIl 
Page 25 
Nationals of all member countries of the World Trade Organization shall benefit from 
any advantage, preference, privilege or immunity .::ranted by any other law to nationals of any 
state in connection with the rights provided for in this Chapter, unless such advantage, 
preference or immunity derives from: 
(One)agreements onjudicial assistance or agreements on law enforcement of general nature; 
(Two) agreements in connection with the protection of intellectual property ~ghts which 
came into force prior to 1 st January 1995. 
Article 67 
The following shall not be registered as trademarks or components thereof: 
(1) Marks devoid of any distinctive character, or composed of signs or statements which 
only usage grants to the products, or which are the nonnal picture or image thereof 
(2) Any mark which is contrary to public order or morality. 
(3) Public armorial bearings, flags and other emblems pertaining to the State or any other 
state, regional or international organizations, as well as any imitations thereof. 
(4) Marks which a:;-e identical with, or similar to, symbols of religious character. 
(5) Symbols of the Red Cross or Red Crescent, or any other emblem of the same character, 
as well as any imitations thereof. 
(6) The portrait of an individual or his armorial bearings, except with his consent. 
(7) Designations of honorary degrees which the applicant is illlable to prove his right 
thereto. 
(8) Marks and geographical indications which are likely to mislead or confuse the public or 
which contain false descriptions as to the origin of products, whether goods or services, 
or their other qualities, as well as the signs that contain an indication of a fictitious, 
imitated or forged trade name. 
Article 68 
The owner of a well-known trademark, worldwide and in Egypt, shall have the right to 
enjoy the protection conferred by this Law even if such a mark is not registered in Egypt. 
The Trade Registry Department shall, e.x officio, reject any application to register any 
mark which is identical with a well-knmvn mark and is intended for products which are 
idemical wim Lhose ofthe well-known mark, unless the application is submitted by the owner 
of lht well-knowTI mark. 
The preceding provision shall apply to applications intended for products wl<jch are not 
icientical with those of the well-krlOwn mark, where the v/ell-known mark is regislered in a IP INIl/EGY!Il l 
Page 26 
COUllITy member of the 'Norld Trade Organization and in Egypt, and where ih:; use of the 
mark in relation to those non-identical products is meant to lead people to believe that a 
COillJect1on exists between the owner of the well-known mark and those products, and that 
such a use may be prejudicial to the interests ofthe owner of the well-known Ll1ark. 
Article 69 
A collective trademark is used to distinguish a product of a group of persons who 
belong to a specific entity, even where such entity has no industrial or commercial enterprise 
of its own. 
The application for registration of a collective mark shall be submitted by a 
representative of such an entity. 
Article 70 
The competent minister may -in the interest of the public -authorize natural persons or 
legal entities involved in the control or examination of products in respect of their origin, 
components, method of ma..'1uf.}cture, quality, authenticity or any other distit'1ctive 
characteristic, to register a mark which shall serve to certify that such control or examination 
of such products is underway. 
Such a mark shall not be disposed of without a special authorization from the 
competent minister. 
Article 71 
The right of the mark O\\'11er to prevent third parties from the import, use, sale or 
distribution of products distinguished by such a mark shall lapse when the owner undertakes 
the marketing of those products in any country, or authorizes a third party to do so. 
Article 72 
Temporary protection is granted to marks on products displayed at national or 
international exhibitions. Such protection shall not benefit from the extension provided for in 
Anicle 75. 
The competent minister shall issue a decision designating such exhibitions and the 
Regulations shall prescribe the terms, conditions and procedure for the grant of such a 
protection. 
Article 73 
The application for regisrration of a mark shall be filed with the Trade Registry 
Department in the manner and form laid dOwTI in the Regulations. The Regulations shall 
prescribe the fe~s due for the application (L'1d all procedures related to the mark. Such fees 
shall not exceed a total of 5,000 pounds. Article 74 IPIN!lIEGYlVl 
Page 27 
A mark shall be registered in respect of one or more of the categories of goods 
produced, or intended to be produced, by the applicant in 2.ccordance with the rules and 
conditions prescribed by the Regulations. 
Its use shall be limited to the category, categories or tbe kinds of products for which it 
has been registered. 
Provisions of Juticle 91 shall apply to the categories for which the mark has not been 
seriously used. 
Article 75 
Where an 2.pplication for registration of a mark is filed in a country or an entity member 
in the World Trade Organization, or a country which extends reciprocity to Egypt, the 
applicant, or his rightful successor, may, within six months from the date of filing the 
application, file with the Department in Egypt a similar application for the same mark, 
covering th:::: same products included in the previous application, in accordance with the terms 
and conditions prescribed by this Law and its Regulations. 
In such a c:~,:.;:\ the priority date shall be that of the first application in the foreign 
country. 
Article 76 
Where two or more persons apply simultaneously for registration of the same mark, or 
similar marks for the same category of products, registration shall be suspended until such 
time when one of the se persons shall have produced a renunciation by the other claimili'llS or 
until a binding judgment has been issued in his favor. 
Article 77 
The Trade Registry Department may, in a motivated decision, require the applicant to 
undertake the necessary modifications on the subject mark in order to define and clarify the 
mark so as to avoid its confusion with a mark already registered, or a mark for which a 
registration application has already been filed. 
Such decision shall, within 30 dayS of its issue, be communicated to the applicant in 
writing, by registered mail with acknowledgement of receipt. 
The Department may reject the application should the applicant fail, within six months 
of the nm:ification, to introduce the 3J.uendments required. 
Article 78 
The applic;ont may appeal the decision of"til.e Departmem mentioned in /u-ticle 77, 
within 30 days from the communication of such a decision. Appeals are considered by a 
committee. or committees. which shall be apDointed bv the comDetent minister and be 
~ , ;. .l. ,..I ;.. 
comDosed oftmee members, one ohvhom shall be a member ofLhe Council of State, IP/N/lIEGY/I/l 
Page 28 
The Regulations ofthis Law shall prescribe the rules of establishing such a committee, 
as well as the procedures for the submission and consideration of such appeals and the 
decision thereon. 
Article 79 
Without prejudice to the right of the applicant to appeal in confonnity with the law, in 
case the committee referred to in the preceding article endorsed the decision to refuse the 
registration of the mark on the groli..'1ds that the it is similar to a mark already registered for 
the same goods, or for one category thereof, the registration of such a mark may not be made 
in favor of the applicant except on the basis of an enforceable court decision. 
Article 80 
Tne Department shall have the decision of accepting the application for registration of 
the mark published in the Gazette of Trademarks and Industrial Designs, in the manner 
prescribed by the Regulations. 
Pu'1y intere~ted party may submit, in writing to the Department, within 60 days from the 
date of publication, <Llld according to the conditions prescribed by the Regulations, a 
motivated opposition to the registration of the mark. 
The Department shall then send a copy of the opposition to the applicant, within 30 
days from the receipt of such a notification. 
The applicant shaH, within 30 days from the receipt of notification, provide t.~e 
Department with his motivated written reply to the opposition, failing which he would be 
considered to have withdrawn his application. 
The Regulations shall prescribe the rules and procedures in this regard. 
Article 81 
The Department shall, after hearing both parties, motivate its decision on the opposition, 
to accept or reject the registration. In its decision of acceptance, it may require the applicant to 
fulfill any requirements it may deem necessary to register the mark. 
Article 82 
The decision of the Department referred to in Article 81 may be appealed before the 
competent Administrative Coun, in accordance with the procedures and thue limits provided 
for in the lavv' governing the Council of State. 
Article 83 
The registralion of a mark is approved by a decision of the Depa,'c:ment ili'Ld shall be 
published, in the maJI .. ner prescribed by the Regulations, in Ihe Trademarks CL.'ld L""1dustrial 
Designs Gazette. Registration will take effect from the date of filing the application. 
Article 84 IPfN/1/EGYlIJl 
Page 29 
The Department shall deliver to the owner of the registered mark a certificate cont::~i:Iling 
the information published in the aforementioned Gazette. 
Article 85 
The owner of a registered mark may request the Department, in writing, to introduce 
any modifications that do not essentially affect the substance of the mark. He may also 
request a modification by deletion without any concomitant addition to the statement of 
products covered by the mark. 
The decision to accept or reject the request for modification shall be subject to the same 
conditions prescribed for t.c1.e acceptance of the original application for registration. 
The prescribed provisions for opposition, appeal and publication shall apply to such 
decisions. 
Article 86 
i\ny person may apply to consult the registered marks or obtain extracts or copies of 
entries in the register, according to the rules and procedures prescribed in the Regulations and 
against payment of a fee prescribed therein not exceeding 100 pounds. 
Article 87 
The transfer of the mark's ownership, its mortgage or attachment can be made 
independently from the commercial enterprise or exploitation project, in accordance with the 
rules and procedures prescribed in the Regulations. 
Article 88 
The transfer of the ownership of the commercial enterprise or exploitation project shall 
include, unless otherv:,rise agreed, the marks registered in the name ofthe owner, if such 
marks were inherently related to the said cornmercial enterprise or exploitation project. 
Should the commercial enterprise or exploitation project be tral1sferred without the 
trademark, the owner of the mark may, unless otherwise agreed, continue to use the mark for 
the same kind of goods, category or categories for which such mark was registered. 
Article 89 
The tra.lsrer of ownership, the ::.-i~'1t of disposal or the mortgage or a mark shall Dot be 
valid towards a third oartv, unless such has been dulv recorded in Lhe register and oublished in 
.L ..I J __.I. 
the Official Gazette in the manner prescribed in the Regulations. IPIN/lIEGY/II1 
Page 30 
Article 90 
The period of protection conferred by the registration of the mark is 10 years, renewable 
for an identical period or periods upon request of its owner and every time \\rithin the last year 
of the protection period, against payment of the fees due for the initial registration 
application. 
The owner of the mark may request the renewal of the protection period within six 
months after the date of its expiry against payment of the prescribed fees and a supplement 
prescribed by the Regulations not exceeding 500 pounds, failing which the Department shall 
proceed to cancel the said mark from the register. 
Article 91 
The competent court may, upon request by any interested party, issue an enforceable 
decision to cancel the registr2.tion if it appears to the court that the mark has not been 
seriously used for a period of five consecutive years. 
Article 92 
A c<Ll1cdled mark may be re-registered -in favor of its owner exclusively -witl::lin 
. three years from the date of Lhc cancellation, according to the prescribed conditions and Sllil1e 
procedure of registration <LTJ.d against payment of a fee prescribed by the Regulations not 
exceeding 1,000 pounds. 
After the lapse of the said period, a mark may be ree-registered for the benefit of its 
owner or a trrird party, in connection with the same products, under the same conditions, 
procedures and fees of the initial application for registration. 
However, where the cancellation is in response to an enforceable court order 
invalidating the registration of a mark, such a mark may be registered in favor of a third party 
soon after the cancellation. 
Article 93 
Extension, renewal, cancellation or reinstatement of the registration shall be published 
in the Trademark and Industrial Designs Gazette in the manner prescribed by the Regulations. 
Article 94 
The Department, or any interested party, may, in cases other than provided for in il.,..rticle 
85, subrrjt to the competent court a request for the addition of <LT1y entry which would have 
been omitted, or to delete or modify any entry incorrectly inscribed therein or contra.ry to the 
truth. 
Article 95 
The OVlTler of a mark may license one or more natural persons or legal entities to use 
his illark on all or some of L.~e products for which the illark was registered. Such license to a 
third party shall not prevent Ihe owner from using his mark. unless othervvise agreed. . '-IPINIlIEGYIV1 
Page 31 
The owner of a mark may not cancel 0-; refuse the renewal of the license contract 
without valid reasons. 
Article 96 
To be recorded in the Trademarks Register, a license agreement for the use of a mark 
shall be certified, or the signatures thereon endorsed. It shall not be valid with respect to a 
third party unless recorded and published in the manner prescribed in the Regulations. 
Article 97 
A licensee may not, unless otherwise agreed, assign the license contrc,ct to a third party 
except in cDnnection with the assignment of the commercial enterprise or exploitation project 
in '""rhich tbe mark is utilized to distinguish the products thereof. 
The mortgage of or the right of disposal of a mark shall not be valid with respect to a 
third party, unless such has been duly recorded in the register and publis!led in the manner 
prescribed in the Regulations. 
Article 98 
Tne license contract may not include any conditions which may unnecessarily restrict 
the licensee in order to maintain the rights conferred by the registration of the mark. 
The license contract may, however, include the following: 
(1) Limit of the license period for use of the mark. 
(2) Reasonable conditions which provide for the effective control by the owner of the 
mark of the quality ofthe products identified by the licensed mark; without restricting 
the licensee's freedom of management and production. 
(3) Cornmihnent of the licensee to refrain from any act that might undermine the status of 
the products identified by the mark. 
Article 99 
The owner of the mark or the licensee may request the cancellation of a license contract. 
The Department shall notify the other party of such a request. 
Such cancellation shall be in accordance \ViL'l the conditions and procedures prescribed 
in the Regulations. 
Article 100 
In the application of "[he provisions of iliis Law, "trade indicaLion" means 3J.'lY 
cl3J.---ification cOIl"1ected direcrly or indirectly \);,:ith the follovling: 
(1) Number, quantity, dimension, measure, capacity or weight of any products_ IPINIlIEGYlIIl 
Page 32 
(2) Place or country in which the products were manufactured or produced. 
(3) Method of manuf:ic,turing or producing the products. 
(4) Elements and components of which the products are composed. 
(5) Name or capacity of the producer or manufacturer. 
(6) Patents or any other industrial property rights, or any commercial or industrial 
concessions, awards or distinctions. 
(7) The nameor :teml under which certain goods are usually known. 
Article 101 
Trade indications shall be factual in all aspects, whether placed on the products, 
packaging, invoices, correspondence, advertisements or other means used for offering the 
products to the public, or whether on signboards, inside the shops or in warehouses. 
A..rticle 102 
No mention may be made of medals, diplomas, awards or honorary distinctions, except 
in relation to the products in respect of which such distinctions apply, or in relation to the 
persons who, or commercial names which, acquired those distinctions, or their successors. 
Such mention should include correct indications of the date, nature of the awards, the 
authority and the occasion on which they were granted. 
A person who participates with others in exhibiting products may not use for his own 
product:; the distinctions granted jointly to the exhibited products, w.lless he indicates in a 
clczr manner the source and nature of such distinctions. 
Article 103 
Where the quantity, dimension, measure, capacity, weight origi..'1 or ingredients of a 
product constitute a factor in assessing its value, the competent minister may decide to 
prohibit the sale, marketing or importation of such products, unless they bear these 
indications. 
The competent minister shall determine the manner in which such indications should be 
placed on the product in Arabic, and any alternative procedures where necessary. 
Article 104 
Where a geographical ongh"'1 has become descriptive of the quality, reputation or other 
. characteristics of a certain product so as to be largely instrumental in its marketing, such 
geographical indications shall be used to indicate the place of origin of such goods in a district 
OT part in a counrry member in me "CN odd Trade Organization or a country according Egypt 
reclprocir:V. IP/NI1 IEGY/I/l 
Page 33 
'The protection in the country of origin is required to protect such indications. 
Article 105 
i\ person residing in a place especially replited for the production of a giv':;c, product, 
may 110t affix on the products of his trade geographical indications in such a mcul:iler as to lead 
the public to believe that the products were produced in that place of special rep'ltation. 
Article 106 
No means may be used to designate or present any products, in such a ffillilller as to lead 
the Dublic to believe that such products were produced in a geographical area other than its " , 
re21 place of origin. 
Article 107 
A person producing any products in a place especially reputed for the production of 
such products, may not affix the geographical indication of that place on similar products he 
produces in other places in such a way as to suggest that such products were produced in the 
reputed place. 
Article 108 
Where a geographical name has become descriptive, to indicate in a commercial sense 
the nature of any products and not their geographical place of origin, such geographical name 
may be used in connection with such products. 
Article 109 
The registration of a trademark including a geographical indication, requires the 
continuous prod.uction, by the applicant, ofthe products in the reputed geographical area, 
Article 110 
A trademark including a geographical indication may not be registered, where such an 
indication is likely to mislead the public as to the real origin of the goods. 
Article 111 
A trademark including a geographical indication may be registered if the right conferred 
by the mark was acquired in good faith before the entry into force of Lhis Law, or before the 
geographical indication has been gra.'1ted in the country of origin. 
Article 112 
.Any interested Da..-o:y may institute normal proceedL'1£s before the comnete.st COl.Lrt of 
J ~ ~ ~ 
illst insta.'1ce LO order prohibiting the else of any geograpJ>jca.l L.'1dication nor included in a 
registered trademark. where such use is likely to mislead the Dublic as to che real on ain of the '-" ' ..- J.. ::; 
products. IP/NIl/EGYIII 1 
Page 34 
The competent court of first instance shall be the court having jlll-:lsdiction at the place 
where the geographical indication is used. 
Article 113 
Without prejudice to any more severe punishment under any other law, shall be 
punishable by imprisonment for a period of not less than [Wo months and by a fine of not 
less than 5,000 pounds and not more than 20,000 pounds, or by either punishment, any person 
who: 
(1) counterfeits a trademark registered in accordance with the law or imitates it in a manner 
which is likely to mislead the public; 
(2) fraudulently uses counterfeit or imitated trademarks; 
(3) frauddently affixes to his products a trademark belonging to a third party; 
(4) knowingly sells, offers for sale or distributes, or acquires for the purpose of s&le, 
products bearing a counterfeit or imitated mark, or on which the mark was unlawfully 
affIXed. 
In case of repetition, the offense shall be punishable by imprisonment for a term of not 
less than two months and by a fine of not less than 10,000 pounds a.'1d not more than 50,000 
pounds. 
In all cases, the court shall order the confiscation of the in£-ingillgproducts, the revenue 
and the returns of such products as well as the implements used in the infringement. 
The court may, when issuing a condemnation, order the closure of the enterprise used to 
commit his infringement, for a period not exceeding six months. in the event of repetition the 
enterprise shall imperatively be closed down. 
Article 114 
Without prejUdice to any more severe punishment und::;r any other law, shall be 
punishable by imprisonment for a period of not less than one monIn and by a fine of not less 
than 2,0000 pounds and not more than 10,000 pounds or by eith.er punishment, any person 
who: 
(1) affixes a false trade indication to his products, on or inside his shops or warehouses, on 
signboards, packaging, invoices, correspondence, advertisements or any oIDer means 
used for offering the products to the public; 
(2) fraudulently places on his marks or commercial dOcllillents 3.,.'1 indication that leads to 
believe that such mark has been registered; 
(3) uses a mark [hat has not been registe:-ed, in lhe cases provided for in paragraphs 2, 3, ), 
7 and 8 of lu-ticle 67; IPIN/1/EGY!Il l 
Page 35 
(4) mentions medals, diplomas, awards or other honorary distinctions of any kind 
whatsoever, in relation to the products in respect of which such distinctions do not 
3.pply, or in relation to the persons or commercial names who did not acquire them; 
(5) participates with others in exhibiting products and uses for his own private products 
the distinctions granted to the jointly exhibited products, unless he indicates in a clear 
manner the source and nature of such distinctions; 
(6) affixes on the products of his own trade, in a place especially reputed for the 
production of a certain product, geographical indications in such a manner as to 
mislead the public to believe that those products were produced in that place; 
(7) uses any means for the designation or exhibition of products in a manner that may 
mislead the public as to the production ofthose goods in a geographical place 
especially reputed rather than the real place of origin of such products; 
(8) manufactures a product in a place especially reputed for its production and who affixes 
a geographical indication on similar products he produces in other places in such a 
way as to suggest that such goods were produced in the said place. 
In case of repetition, such an offense shall be punishable by imprisonment for a period 
of not less than one month and by a fine of not less than 4,000 pOlliLds and not more than 
20,000 pounds_ 
Article 115 
The president ofthe competent court considering the merits of the case may, upon a 
request by an interested party, and on petition, order one or more appropriate cOllservatory 
measures, and in particular: 
(1) Establish the infringement of a protected right. 
(2) Draw up an exhaustive inventory and detailed description of all the machines and 
implements used or may have been used in the infringement, as well as the products, 
goods, signboards of shops, packaging, invoices, correspondence, advertisements or the 
like, on which the mark or the geo graphical indication, subj ect of the offense, might 
have been affixed, as well as the products imported, on their arrival. 
(3) Order the seizure of the articles stated in item (2). 
In all cases, the President of the court may order the assignment of one or more experts 
to assist the bailiff in charge of the execution. He may order the requesting parry to provide 
an auurouriate security . 
.... .1.. ~ ..J 
The requesting parry shall submit Lhe Ulerits of the case to the competent comt, wilhin 
15 days of issuing the order, failing wl:.u'ch such order shall cease to have effect. IP/N/lIEGYIII1 
Page 36 
Article 116 
The convIcted person may, within 30 days from the date of the issue or notificatiol1 c 
appeal such a.n order to the president of the court. The president may confirm or revoke the 
order, totally Of partly. 
Article 117 
The court may, in any civil or penal action, order the sale of the articles distrained, or to 
be distrained, and deduct their value from the amounts of the compensation or fines, or 
dispose of them by any other means the court may deem appropriate. 
The court may also order the destructioil of the illegal marks and, where necessary, the 
destrLlction ofthe products, goods, signboards, packaging, invoices, correspondence, 
advertisements or other items bearing these marks or bearing illegal description or 
geographical indications, infringing the provisions oftbis Book. It may also order the 
destruction of the machines and implements used specifically in the act of infringement. 
The court may further order that its judgment be published in one or more newspapers 
at the expense ofthe convicted party. 
The court may order some or all of the above measures, even in the event of acquittaL 
Article 118 
The Minister of Justice shall, in agreement with'the competent minister, appoint persons 
with judiciary powers for the implementation of the provisions of this Part. PART II 
INDUSTRLU DESIGNS 
Article 119 IP/NI 1 IEGY/IIl 
Page 37 
An industrial design is any composition of lines or any three-dimensional form whether 
or not associated with colors provided that such composition or form gives a special 
appearance of novelty and is industrially applicable. 
Article 120 
Pill industrial designs shall lose its novelty: 
(1) If it was disclosed to the public by means of a description or by use, prior to the filing of 
the registration application. 
Nonetheless, disclosure or description of an industrial design shall not affect its novelty 
if it was carried out after the application for registration in a country member in the World 
Trade Organization, or a country which applies reciprocity to Egypt, or if the disclosure 
occurred in a national or an international exhibition, or a pUblication about the industrial 
design in a conference or a scientific periodical, provided that all t..llls has occurred within six 
months prior to the date on which the registration application was filed in Egypt. 
(2) Ifit was not essentially different from a prior industrial design, or ifit was intended for 
another kind of products different from those of the previously registered industrial design .. 
Article 121 
Without prejudice to international conventions in force in Egypt, any natural person or 
legal eutity, Egyptian or foreign, belonging to, domiciled or active in a country or an entity 
that is a member of the World Trade Organization or that accords reciprocity to Egypt, shall 
have the right to file an application to register an industrial design at the Egyptian Trade 
Registry Department, and whatever rights derived there from, in accordance with the 
provisions of this Law. 
Nationals of all member countries of the World Trade Organization shall benefit of any 
advantage, preference, privilege or immunity granted by any other law to nationals of any 
state in connection with the rights provided for in this Chapter, unless such advantage, 
preference or immunity derives from: 
(One)Agreements on judicial assistance or agreements on law enforcement of general nature. 
(Two) Agreements in corrnection with the protection of intellectual property rights which 
came into force prior to 15t January 1995. 
Article 122 
The Trade Registry Department shall be competent to register the industrial designs in a 
special register. IP /N/lIEGY 1IJ1 
Page 38 
The application may comprise a number of designs not exceeding 50, provided that all 
such designs form one coherent unit. 
The Regulations to this Law shall prescribt: for the procedure of filing an application 
for registration, the number of possible designs inc.luded in one application, the examination 
procedures, the publication of the Department's decision of the application's acceptance, 
procedures of opposition and other required procedures, as well as the prescribed fees for such 
applications, their renewal and all relevant procedures, the total of such fees not exceeding 
3,000 pounds. 
Artide 123 
Staff working in the Trade Registry Depru"Lment may not file industrial designs 
applications, on their own behalf or by an intermediary, until at least three yeill-s have elapsed 
from the date of termination of their employment in the Department. 
Article 124 
The following industrial designs shall not be registered: 
(1) Designs whose shape is basically due to the technical or functional requirements of the 
product 
(2) Designs that include emblems, religious symbols, stamps or flags of Egypt or other 
states, or the use of which may undermine public order or offend public morality. 
(3) Designs which are identical, similar or closely resemble a registered trade mark or a 
well-known mark. 
In all cases where the application for registration has been refused, the Department 
shall, within 30 days ofthe date of such decision, notify the applicant in writing of its 
motivated decision, by registered mail with acknowledgement of receipt. 
This decision may be appealed within 30 days from the date of its notification. 
The appeal shall be examined by a committee, established by the competent minister, 
composed oftmee members, one of whom shall be a member ofthe-Council of State. The 
Committee may seek the advice of experts as it may deem appropriate. 
The Regulations to this Law shall prescribe the Committee's rules of procedure and the 
fees relating to the appeal, which shall not exceed 500 pounds. 
The COlT'.cInittee shall issue its motivated decision witllin 90 days from the date of filing 
the a.ppeaL 
The decision of the appeal commiTtee way, within 30 days from the date ofi~s 
notification, be opposed before the Adminisrrarive TribunaL Article 125 IPINIlIEGY/I/l 
Page 39 
The Department may reqmre the applicant to introduce certain modifications or 
complements as it may deem applopriate to satisfy the provisions of i'inicle 124 and as 
prescribed by the Regulations, failing which the applic3J.rt shall be consider~d as having 
withdrawn his application. 
The applicant may, within 30 days of the notification ofthe decision and according to 
the procedure prescribed by the Regulations, appeal such a requirement to the Committee 
Dfovided for in Article 124. 
The applicant may, on his own initiative, submit to the Depamnent such modifications 
or complements, in accordo.Dce with the Regulations. 
Article 126 
The protection conferred by the registration of an industrial design shall be for a period 
often years as from the date of firing the registration application in Egypt. 
The protection shall be extended for a further period of five years, when the owner of 
the industrial design applies for renewal within the last year of the protection period, and in 
the manner prescribed by the Regulations. 
The owner may, however, apply for renewal of the registration, within three months 
after the expiry of the protection period, failing which the Department shall automatically 
revoke the registration. 
Article 127 
The registration of an industrial design shall confer on its owner the right to prohibit 
third parties from the use, manufacture, sale or import of products bearing or incorporating 
such an industrial design. 
The right to prevent other parties from importing, selling or distributing such products, 
shall lapse where th.e owner undertakes to market those products in any state or license a third 
,party to do so. 
The use by a third party of a protected industrial design in any of the following shall not 
be deemed to constitute an infringement of such a right: 
(1) Activities relating to scientific research. 
(2) Use for teaching and trairing purposes. 
(3) Non-commercial activi~ies. 
(4) Manufacture or sale of parts of such products, far the pwyose of rep air, against fair 
compensatlOn. IPIN/lIEGY/I!l 
Page 40 
(5) Other uses that do not unreasonably conflict with the normal exploitation of the 
protected industrial design and that do not unreasonably compromise the legitimme 
interests of the owner, taking into consideration the legitimate interests of third pm1ies . 
Article 128 
The ownership of an industrial design may be assigned, wholly or partly, against or 
without compensation. It may also be subject to a mortgage or a right of disposal. 
Without prejudice to the provisions pertaining to the sale and mortgage of commercial 
enterprises, the transfer of ownership of an industrial design, its mortgage or disposal shall not 
be valid~with respect to a third party unless such an act has been duly recorded in the register 
of industrial designs. 
The Regulations shall prescribe the relevant procedures in this regard. 
Article 129 
The Trade Registry Department may, when public interest so requires, and subject to 
the approval of a ministerial committee established by a decision of the Prime Minister upon 
submission of the competent minister, issue a ll"J.otivated decision to grant a third party non­
voluntary and non-exclusive license for the exploitation of the protected industrial design, 
against fair compensation. The Regulations shall provide for the tenus, conditions and 
procedures for the grant of such a license. 
Article 130 
The Department shall publish the decisions of registration, renewal and cancellation in . 
the Gazette of Trademarks and Industrial Designs, accompanied, where necessary, by a copy 
of the design, and in the manner prescribed by the RegUlations. 
The provisions of Articles 80, 81, 82 and 83 shall apply to this Chapter. 
Article 131 
Any person may request to consult the registered industrial designs or obtain extracts or 
copies thereof from the register, according to the rules and procedures prescribed by the 
Regulations and against payment of the fee prescribed therein, whic:'l is not to exceeding 100 
pounds. 
Article 132 
Temporary protection shall be granted to industrial designs iliat fulfil the registration 
requirements which are displayed in national or international exhibitions, as determined by a 
decision of the competent minister. 
The Re2:ulations shall provide for the Ie;:ms, conditions and procedures for the !2Iant of 
~ < ~ 
such protection. Article 133 IP/N/1/EGY/II1 
Page 41 
The Department and any interested party may file a case wit~1 the Administrative 
Tribunal with a view to revoke an lmlawful registration of an indus,:rial design, The 
Department shall revoke the registration upon receipt of a binding order to that effect. 
Article 134 
Without prejudice to any more severe punishment stipulated under any other law, shall 
be punishable by a fine of not less than 4,000 pounds and not more than 10,000 pounds any 
person who: 
f1) \,1 
(2) 
(3) imitates a protected industrial design registered according to the pl'o'Jisions of this Law; 
knowingly, manufactures, sells, offers for sale, acquires for trade or circulation, 
products bearing imitated industrial designs; 
unlawfully d.i'1ixes on products, advertisements, trademarks, certain implements or the 
like, indications that may lead to believe that such a person has registered an industrial 
design, 
In case of repetition, the punishment shall be imprisonment for a period of not less than 
one month and a fine of not less than 8,000 pounds and not more than 20,000 pounds. 
In all cases, the court shall order the confiscation of the incriminated industrial design, 
the infringed products and the implements used in t..lJ.e infringement. The convicting order 
shall be published in one or more newspapers at the expense of the convicted party, 
Article 135 
The president of the competent court considering the merits of the case may, upon a 
request of any interested party, and by an order issued on the basis of a petition, order one or 
more appropriate conservatory measures, and in particular: 
(1) Establish the infringement of a protected right. 
(2) Draw up an exhaustive inventory and detailed description of the infringed products and 
the implements used or may have been used in the infringement. 
(3) Order the seizure of the articles stated in item (2). 
In all cases, the president of the court may order the assignment of one or more experts 
to assist the bailiff in charge of the execution; a.'1d may order the requesting party to provide 
. . 
2..t'1 appropnate secunty, 
T:lle requesting pany shall submit the merits of the case to 'Lhe competent court, within 
15 d.ays of issuing the order, failing which such order shaLl cease to have effect. !PfNI1 IEGYIII1 
Page 42 
A .. rticle 13 6 
The incriminated person may, withiu 30 days from the date of the issue or notification 
of the order, as may be the case, appeal [the order] to the president [ofthe court] who issued 
such an order.. The president of the court may confirm or revoke the order, totally or pa.:.-tly .. 
Article 137 
The Minister of Justice shall, in agreement with the competent minister, appoint persons 
with judiciary powers for the implementation of the provisions of this Chapter. BOOK THREE 
COP\mGHT A . .ND REL.A.TED RIGHTS 
Article 138 IP/N/1/EGY!Ill 
Page 43 
For the purposes oftms Law, the following terms shall have the meaning given below: 
(1) Wark: Any created literary, artistic ar scientific product, whatever its type, mode of 
expression, significance or purpose of its creation. 
(2) Creation: The creative nature that confers originality on the work. 
(3) Author: The person who creates the work. Is considered author of the work the person 
whose name is indicated on, or at+uibuted to, the published work as being its author, unless 
proven otherwise. 
rne author may publish ms work anonymously or under a pseudonym, provided that the 
identity of the author can be established without any doubt. In case of doubt, the publisher or 
producer of the work, whether a natural person or legal entity, shall be the representative of 
the author in the exercise ofms rights until the identity of the latter is disclosed. 
(4) Collective work: A work made by a group of authors under the instruction of a natural 
person who, or a legal entity which, undertakes.to publish the work under his or its name 
and direction, provided L.l.at the contributions of the participants in such work are 
integrated in the general objective set by that person or legal entity, in such a manner that 
it is impossible to distinguish the individual contribution of each. 
(5) Work of joint authorship: A work which is not considered as a collective work, in the 
making of which more than one person participate, whether or not it is possible to 
distinguish the individual contribution of each in the work. 
(6) Derivative work: A work which is derived from an existing one, such as translations, 
musical re-arra..11gements, compilations of works, including readable databases, from the 
computer or otherwise, and collections of expressions of folklore, which, by reason of the 
arrangement and selection of their contents, are considered as created works. 
(7) National folklore: Any expression which consists of distinctive elements reflecting the 
traditional popular heritage, which originated or developed in EgY'Pt, including in 
particular: 
(a) Oral expressions such as folk tales, poetry and charades, and Olher folklore; 
(b) Musical expressions such as popular songs accompanied by wusic; 
(c) Motion expressions, such as popuiar dances, plays, mistic forms and rituals; IPIN/1/EGYl1' l 
Page 44 
(cl). Tangible expressions such as: 
--Products of popular plastic art, particularly drawings with lines m.\d colors, 
e:"Igravings, sculpture, ceramics, pottery, woodwork and any inlaid designs, mosaics, 
metal or jewelry, hand-woven bags, needlework, textiles, carpets and clothes; 
--Musical instruments; 
--Architectural fOTIns. 
(8) Public dom;=tin: Domain including all works initially excluded from protection or wc·~ks 
in respect of which the term of protection of economic rights expires, in accordance with 
the provisions of this Book. 
(9) Reproduction: Making one or more exact copies of a work or a sound recording, in any 
manner or fonn, including p::rrnanent or tempor3lY storage of the work or sound 
recording in an electronic form. 
(10) Publication: fu"lY act which isliahle to make available to the public, in any manner, a 
work, a sound resording, a broadcast program or a performance. 
Works may be made available to the public subject to the consent of the author or 
copyright owner. Sound recordings, broadcast pro grams or performances may be made 
available to the public subj eet to the consent of the producer or his successor. 
(11) Producer of an audio-or an audiovisual work: A natural person who, or a legal entity 
which, takes 1i~e initiative to produce and to assume the responsibility for making the 
audio-or audiovisu.al work. 
(12) Performers: Persons who act, sing, deliver, declaim, play, dance or otherwise perform, 
including expressions of folklore, in literary or artistic works protected by the 
provisions of this Law or belonging to the public domain. 
(13) Producer of sound recordings: A natu.Lal person who, or a legal entity which, first fixes 
sounds for any work or performance foI' a performer, other than fixing of the sounds on 
images in preparing an audiovisual work. 
(14) Broadcasting: Sound or audiovisual transmission, by wireless means for public 
reception, of a work, performance, sound recording or recording of a work or a 
perfonnance, including transmission by satellite. 
(15) Public performance: iUlY act which is liable to make the work available to the public in 
any form, such as acting, declaiming, playing or transmission so as to bring 1i1.e public 
in direct contact with the vyork through performance, sound recording, visual or aural 
means. 
(16) Communication to the public: Transmission by wire or wireless means of images, 
sounds, images and sounds, of a worK, perf::mnance, sound recording, broadcast in such 
a way that, where such tr3J.lsmission is Lhe only means of reception, any person other IP IN/l/EGY /Ill 
Page 45 
than family members and close friends can receive in any place different from where 
transmission originates, irrespective of time and place of reception, including time and 
place individually chosen by means of a computer Of any other means. 
(17) Broadcasting organization: Any person who or entity which is entrusted with or 
responsible for aural or audiovisual broadcasting by \vireless means. 
(18) Competent minister: Minister of Culture; the Minister of Information shall be 
competent in connection with broadcasting organizations, and the Minister of 
Communication and Information shall be competent in connection with computer 
programs and databases. 
(19) CompeteDt ministry: Ministry of Culture; the Ministry of Information shall be 
competent in connection with broadcasting organizations, and the Ministry of 
Communication and Information shall be competent in connection with computer 
programs and databases 
Article 139 
The prescribed protection of copyright and related rights covers Egyptians and 
foreigners, wheTher natural persons or legal entities, who belong to a member country in "(he 
World Trade Organization or having such status. 
Nationals of member states comprise: 
1 st. with regnrcis to copyright: 
1. Authors whose works are published for the first time in one of the member states in the 
Organization, or simultane:::)l].sly in a non-member and a member state. A work shall be 
considered as having been published simultaneously hi several countries if it has been 
published in two or more countries within thirty days of its flrst pUblication. 
Shall not constitute publication the acting of a dramatic, dramatico-musical or 
cinematographic work, or the playing of a musical work, the public recitation of a literary 
work, the commlL.'1ication by wire or the broadcasting of a literarf or artistic work, the 
exhibition of a work of art and the construction of a work of architecture_ 
2. Producers and authors of cinema.tographic works the maker of which has his 
headquarters or habitual residence in one of the countries of that Organization_ 
3. Authors of works of architecture erected in a member country or of other artistic works 
incorporated in a building or other sU1lcture located in a member country. 
2nd. with regards to related rights: 
1. Performarlce artists \\rhere one of the [ollo'vling conditions ~las been fulfilled: 
(One)the perfonnance has laken place in a member coumry oft:he World Trade Organization; IP/N/lIEGY!Ill 
Page 46 
(Two) the performance has been transcribed in sound recordings the producer of which is 
a national of a member country in th~ V/odd Trade Organization, or ifthe first fixation of the 
sound has been done in a territory of a member country in the Organization; 
(Three) the performa.TJ.ce has been transmitted through a broadcasting organization whose 
headquarters is iI1 a member country of the World Trade Organization, provided that the radio 
program has been broadcast from a transmission device also existing in the member country. 
2. Producers of sound recordings if the first fixation of the sound has taken place in a 
member country of the Organization. 
3. Broadcasting organizations whose headquarters are in a territory of a member country in 
the World Trade Organization, provided that the radio program has be~ broadcast from a 
transmission device also existing in a territory of a member country in the Organization. 
Nationals of all member countries of the World Trade Organization shall benefit of any 
advantage, preference, privilege or immunity granted by any other law to nationals of any 
state in cOTh."'1ection with the intellectual property rights provided for in this Chapter, unless 
such advantage, preference or immunity derives from: 
(One)agreements on judicial assistance or agreements on law enforceme:J.t of general nature; 
(Two) agreements in connection with the protection of intellectual property rights which 
came i..rrto force prior to 1 st Ja..'1uary 1995. 
Article 140 
Protection under this Law is conferred to authors of literary and a..rtistic works, and 
particularly the following works: -. 
(1) Books, booklets, 3J.-ticles, bulletins and any other written works; 
(2) Computer programs; 
(3) Databases, whether readable by computer or otherwise; 
(4) Lectures, speeches, sermons and any other oral works when recorded; 
(5) Dramatic and dramatico-musical works, and pantomimes; 
(6) Nlusical works with or without words; 
(7) Audiovisual works; 
(8) Works of architecture; 
(9) \Vorks of drawings with lines or colors, sculpture, lithography, printing on textile and 
any other similar works of fine arts; 
(10) PhDtOgraphic and similar works; 
(11) Works of applied and plastic arts; 
(12) Illustrations, maps, sketches and three-dimensional works rdatL'1g to geography, 
topography or architectural designs; 
(13) Derivative works, \vithout prejudice 10 the protection prescribed for the works from 
which they have been derived. Protec:tion shall cover also G.1.e title of the work ifit is 
inventive. Article 141 IPINIllEGYIV1 
Page 47 
Protecl:iGIl shall not cover mere ideas, procedures, systems, operational methods, 
concepts, prirJciples, discoveries and data, even when expressed, described, illustrated oc:­
included in a work. 
In addition, protection shall not cover the fol1owing: 
(1) Official documents, whatever their source or target language, such as laws, regulations, 
resolutions and decisions, international conventions, court decisions, award of arbitrators 
and decisions of administrative committees having judicial competence . 
. -' 
(2) News on current events which are mere press information. 
However, collections of the above shall enjoy protection if the selection of such 
collection is creative by virtue of its arrangement or any other personal effort deserving 
protection. 
Article 142 
National foL1dore shall be considered part of the public domain ofthe people. The 
competent miristry shall exercise the author's economic and moral rights and shall protect 
and support such folklore. 
Article 143 
The author and his universal successor shall enjoy over the work perpetual 
imprescriptibie and inalienable moral rights. Such rights shall include the following: 
(1) The right to make the work available to the public for the flIst time. 
(2) The right to claim authorship; 
(3) The right to prevent any modification considered by the author as distOrtion or mutilation 
of the work. Modification in the course of translation shall not be considered as ai"1 
infringement unless the translator fails to indicate deletion or changes or ifhe causes 
prejudice to the reputation and status of the author. 
Article 144 
¥lhere serious reasons arise, lL1.e author alone shall have the rigI1t to request the court of 
first instance to prevent putting the work in circulation, withdraw the work from circulation or 
allow making substantive modification to the work, nOt'Nithstanciing his disposal ofthe 
economic exploitation rights. In such a case, the author shall, \viL.'lln a delay fixed by the 
court, pay in advance a fair compensation to the person authorized LO exercise the economic 
rights of exploitation, failing wbch the court decision shall have no effect. IPIN/1/EGYlVl 
Page 48 
Article 145 
Any disposal of any moral rigtit3 stipulated in ~Articles 14:: ~nd 144 shall be considered 
null and void. 
Article 146 
1-1 the.' absence of any heir or successor, the competent ministry shall exercise the moral 
rig..l:l~s provided for iT1 A'iicles 143 and 144, after the expiration of the tenn of protection of 
the economic rig."iJts prescribed in tills Law. 
Article 147 
The authoT OJ..ici :[is universal successor shall have the exclusive right to authorize 0-;:­
prevent any form of exploitation of bs work, p3J.--ricularly throug..l} reproduction, broadcasting, 
re-broadcasting, public performance, public communication, tra..'1s1ation, adapration, rental, 
Jending or making the work available to the public in 3J.'1y manner, including tlrrough 
CCmpllLCrS, interrd, information nenvorks, communication nerworks an.d other means. 
TIle exclusi ve rig.c1.t for computer program rentals shall only apply to the maL.'1 rental 
t2tc::rpnse; it shall llot ~ro7]Y to Tenting audiovisual works inasmuch as the circulation of such 
copies does not cause material prejT.lciice to the owner of the exclusive right in question. 
"D::e author and his successor shall also have the right to contrcl 2.:ilY disposal of the 
oriiJ:d CGpy ofthc v{ork, and shall consequently be entitled to 2. certain percentage of not 
more ;:hen 10% of the proceedings resulting from every disposal of that copy. 
The rig...ht to prevent third parties from importing, using, selliag or distributing his 
protected work, shall lapse where the copyright owner underta...\es to exploit or fficrket his 
wDrk:in any state or authorize a third party to do so. 
Article 148 
The protection of an author's copyright and the translation rights afms work into 
another langu.age sh?1111apse with regards to the translation ofthat work into the Arabic 
language, unless the author or the traD..slator himself exercises this right directly or through a 
third party 'h'1tclin three years of L"'1e date of first publication oUhe original or ~r3.i1.sjated work. 
Article 149 
The author shall have the right to transfer to a third party all or some of ills economic 
rights stated in this Law. 
Such a mmsfer shall be certified in w~-iting and contain cm eXDlicit and detailed 
i?_dication of each right to be transferred wit."'-l the extent 3..c'"ld purpose of rr3...'lsfer md the 
:l'ation and place of exploitation. 
The author shall be the OIvner of all economic rights other lh2.D what he has explicitly 
.ned. Authorization by the author to exploit any ofLhe economic ri~)-lCS relati::lg ;:0 a work 
lot mean authorization to exploit other economic righIs relating TO che same wo,k. IP/N/l/EGY/I/l 
Page 49 
Without prejudice to the moral rigtr~s of the author provided for in this Law, the author 
shall refrain from any act that would hamper the exploitation oftbe rights disposed of 
.Li ... rti cl e 150 
The author shall be entitled to such remuneration, in cash or in kind, as he considers fair 
for the transfer of one or more of the economic rights of his work to a third party, on the basis 
of a percentage of the revenue made as a result of exploitation, a lump sum or a combination 
ofboth. 
Article 151 
Where it appears that the agreement referred to in A.rticle 150 is prejudicial to the 
. author's rights or became so due to circumstances that arose after the agreement, the author or 
his successor may request the court of first instance to reconsider the value ofremuneration 
agreed upon, without prejudice to the rights and interests of the assignee. 
Article 152 
Any disposal by the author of the sole original copy ofms work, rGg:::):-cUess of its form, 
shall not be considered as an assignment of his economic rights. 
Nevertheless, the assignee may not be required to enable the author to reproduce, copy 
or display the original copy, unless otherwise agreed. 
Article 153 
&'1.y disposal by the author of his future intellectual production shall be considered as 
nun a..'1.d void. 
Article 154 
The economic rights of the authors may be seized with respect to works that are 
published or made available for circulation. Such works may not be seized if the author dies 
before their publication, unless it has been proven that he intended to publish the work before 
his death. 
Article 155 
Performers and their universal successors shall enjoy a moral, perpetual, inalienable and 
imprescriDtible rig...~t to the f811owing: 
~ ~ -
(i) To be identified as the performers oflive or recorded perfoB1ances as such .. 
(ii) To plcvent any modification, alteration or cUstonion of their performililce. 
Th.e comDetent ministry sh211 exercise such moral r:i 8'1ts after expiration of the term of , '----', .. 
prorec;:ion provided for in this Law, where there is no heir or successor. IPINIlIEGYIV1 
Page 50 
Article 156 
Performer:::· shall enjoy the following exclusive economic rights: 
(i) Comr"ll1micate their performance to the public, authorize making available to t.l;e 
public, renting or lending the original fixation or copies oftheir performances; 
(ii) Prevent any exploitation oftheir performances in any manner without their prior , 
Ivritten authorization, including in particular fixation of such live performances on a medium, 
rental with the purpose ofmakL.'1g direct or indirect commercial profit, or public broadcasting 
of such fixations; 
(iii) Rent or loan of the original or copies of their performances with the purpose of 
making director indirect commercial profit, regardless of the ownership of the original GJ" 
rented copies; 
(iv) Make a fixation of a performance available to the public by broadcasting, through 
computers or other means in such a way as to enable the individual reception at any time or 
place. 
The provision of this Article shall not apply to the fixations of perfonnances Lll.cluded in 
audiovisual fixations, unless otherwise agreed. 
Article 157 
Producers of sound recordings shall enjoy the following exclusive economic rights: 
1) Prevent any exploitation of their recordings in any manner, without their prior written 
mthorization. Prohibited exploitation, in this sense, includes, in particular, reproduction, 
'enting, broadcasting of such recordings or making them available througt1. computers or any 
lther means. 
2) Making a sound recordjng available to the public by wire or wireless means or through 
omputers or any other me<L.'1s. 
Article 158 
Broadcasting organizations shall enjoy the following exclusive economic rights: 
:) Authorize the exploitation of their recordings. 
:) Prevent any communication to the public, without their prior written authorization, of 
:eir television recordings, L71cluding, in particular, fixation, reproduction, sale, rental, re­
~oadcasting or communicating such works to the public throu~h ili'1y me2l1S, including the 
moval or destruction of any technical protection of such progrCLTllS bj' coding or oL1.er Article 159 IPlNll/EGY/Ill 
Page 51 
Provisions under this Law on the assignment by the author of IllS economic rights shall 
apply to holders of related rights. 
Without prejudice to the exclusive rights of performers and broCidcasting organizations 
provided for in this Law, they shall only ha.ve the right to a single equitable remuneration for 
the direct or indirect use of programs published for commercial purposes of broadcasting or 
communication to the public, unless otherwise agreed. 
Article 160 
The author's economic rights provided for in this Law shall be protected throughout the 
life time of the author and for 50 years from the date of his death. 
Article 161 
The economic :;:ights relating to works of joint authorship shall be protected throughout 
the lives of all co-authors and for 50 years from the death of the last survivor. 
Article 162 
Where the copyright holder is a legal entity, th~ economic rights relating to authors of 
collective works, other than authors of works of applied art, shall be protected for 50 years 
from the date on which the work was published or made available to the public for the first 
time, whichever comes first. Where the copyright holde:: -is 3: natural person, the protection 
period shall be calculated according to the rule s~ipulated in Articles 160 and 161.' 
The economic rights relating to a work published for the fIrst time after the death of the 
author shall expire after 50 years from the date on which the work was published or made 
available to the public for the first time, whichever comes fIrst. 
Article 163 
The economic rights relating to a work published anon}'Illously or under pseudonym 
shall be protected for a period of 50 years from the date on which the work was published or 
made available to the public for the first time, whichever comes first, unless the identity of the 
author is known and established or revealed by the author, in which case the term of 
protection shall be calculated according to the rule stipulated in /uticle 160. 
Article 164 
The economic rights of the author ofa work of applied art shall expire after a period of 
25 years from L~e date on which the work was published or made available to the public for 
the first time, wrjchever comes first. 
Anide 165 
In cases where the term of proteclion is calculated from Ihe dale on which Ul.e work was 
published or made available to the public for the first: time, ~he term shall be calculated taking IPIN/lIEGYlIIl 
Page 52 
into consideration the date that comes firs t, regardless of any re-publication or making 
available to the public, unless substantial changes were made by the author in the work so that 
it may be considered as a new work. 
\Vhere the work consists of several p<,-rts or volumes published separately and at 
intervals, each part or volume shall be considered as an independent work for the purpose of 
calculating the term of protection. 
Article 166 
Performers shall enjoy an exclusive economic right for the exploitation of their 
performances, as stipulated in Article 156, for a period of 50 years calculated from the date on 
which the performance or the recording took place, as may be the case. 
Article 167 
Producers of sound recordings shall enjoy an exclusive economic right to exploit their 
recordings, as stipulated in Article 157, for a period of 50 years calculated from the date on 
which the recording was made or made public, whichever comes first, within the limits 
provided for in this Law. 
~A..rtide 168 
. Broadcasting organizations shall enjoy an exclusive economic ri::ht to exploit their 
programs, for a period of20 years calculated from the date on which the program was 
broadcast for the fL.~t time. 
Axticle 169 
Broadcasting organizations shall have the right to broadcast works performed in any 
public place. Such organizations shaH indicate in the broadcast the name of the author and the 
title of the work, and pay him an equitable remuneration, in cash or h'1 kind. They shall also 
agree to pay any DIher compensation as appropriate. 
Article 170 
Any person may request from the competem ministry to be granted a personal license 
for the reproduction or translation, or both, of any work protected under this Law, without the 
authorization ofthe author 3.ild for the purposes indicated in the next paragraph, against 
equitable remuneration IQ the author or his successor, to the extent that such license is not in 
contradiction with the normal exploitation of the work or does not unduly prejudice the 
legitimate interEsts of thE author or the copyright holders. 
The license shall DE granted, by a motivated decision, indicating the scope in rime and 
place, for the pll.rpose of meeting teaching requirements of all kinds and levels. 
The Regulations shcJl prescribe the terms md ccmditions for the gr2.Dt of such 3. license 
d h . -r ' , . h ' 11 d 1 000 ,- , , all t e categones or lees Que, WillCL Sha _ not excee , POUtlCl.S ror each worle Article 171 IPINII/EGY/I/l 
Page 53 
Without prejudice to the moral rights of the author under this Law, the author may not, 
after the pUblication oUhe work, prevent third parties from ca.crrying out any of the following 
acts: 
(1) Perform the wcrk in family context or student gathering within an educational 
institution, to the extent that no direct or indirect financial remuneration is obtained; 
(2) Make a single copy of the work for one's exclusive personal use, provided that such a 
copy shall not hamper the normal exploitation of the work nor cause undue prejudice to 
the legitimate interests ofthe author or copyright holders; 
However, the author or his successor may, after the publication of the work, prevent 
third parties from carrying out any of the following ;;.sts without his authorization: 
It Reproduction or copying works of fine, applied or plastic arts, unless they were 
displayed in a public place, or works of architecture; 
'" Reproduction or copying of all or a substantial part of the notes of a musical work; 
It Reproduction or copying or all or a substantial part of a database or computer program. 
(3) Make, with the consent oftne legitimate owner of the program, a single copy or an 
adaptation of a computer pro gram, even if exceeding the extent necessary for the use of 
the program inasmuch as it remains within the limits of the purpose for which consent 
was initially granted, for archiving purposes or to replace a lost, destroyed or invalid 
original copy. In either case, the original or adapted copy shall be destroyed upon 
ex.piration of the property tiae. The Regulations shall determine the terms and 
conditions of adaptction from the program. 
(4) Make an analysis of the v/8rk, or excerpts or quotations therefrom, for the purpose of 
criticism, discussion or information. 
(5) Reproduction from protected works for use in legal or administrative proceedings, 
inasmuch as required by such proceedings, provided that the source and the name of the 
author are mentioned. 
(6) Reproduction of short extracts from a work for teaching purposes, by way of illustration 
and explanation, in a written form or through an audio, visual or audio visual recording, 
provided that such reproduction is within reasonable limits a.ld does not go beyond the 
desired purpose, and provided that the name ofthe author and the title of the work are 
mentioned on each copy whenever possible 3...Tld practicaL 
(7) RepmducDon, if neCeSSilly for teaching purposes in educational insLi.i:ntes, of Ch'1 article, 
a short work or extracts therefrom, provided tbat: 
5 rep:Loduction is made once or at differem separate occasions; 
~ the nCLTTIe of Lhe amhor ill'1Q the title of G1e wo::-k ae mentioned cm each copy. IPIN/lIEGYlVl 
Page 54 
. (8) Making a single copy ofthe work, through the intermediary of a documentation and 
archiving center or through a bookshop not aiming at making any c!jrect or indirect 
profit, and provided that: 
o where the reproduced work is a published article, a short work o:r an extract of a 
work, the aim of reproduction is to satisfy the needs of a natural pe~"son, the copy will 
be used only for study or research purposes, and that a single copy is made or at 
different occasions; 
• where the reproduction is made with the aim of preserving the original copy or, 
when necessary, replacing a lost, destroyed or has become invalid copy, and it was 
impossible to obtain such a substitute copy under reasonable conditions. 
(9) Ephemeral reproductioj} of a work where such reproduction is made in relay, during a 
digital transmission of the work or in the course of a process of reception of a digitally 
stored work, within the normal operation of the device used by an authorized person .. 
Article 172 
\Vithout prejudice El the moral rights of the author under this Law, the author or his 
successor may not prevent newspapers, peliodicals or broadcasting organizations, inasmuch 
as justified by their aims, from doing the following: 
(1) Publishing excerpts from bs works which were legally made available to the pub lie, 
and his published articles on topical issues of concern to the public opL.-llon, unless the 
author has prohibited such publication when publishing the work, and provided that the 
source, the name afthe author and the title of the work were mentioned. 
(2) Publishing speeches, lectures, opinions or statements delivered in public sessions afthe 
parliament, legislative or administrative bodies or scientific, literary, artistic, political, 
social or religious meetings, including statements delivered during public comt 
proceedings. However, t.~e author alone or his successor shall have the right to make 
collections of such works, for which he shall be entitled to claim authorship. 
(3) Publication of extracts of an audio, visual or audiovisual work made available to the 
public in the comse of covering current events. 
Article 173 
Restrictions on the author's economic rights, ull.der this Law, shall also apply to ovmers 
of related rig,."lts. 
Article 174 
v'Y'bere more th3J.l one person have participated in the production of a wDrk in such a 
manner that it is impossible to distinguish the contribmion of each in u1e jDim work, all IP/NI 1 IEGYlIll 
Page 55 
participants shall be considered jointly and equally as authors of the work, unless otherwise 
agreed in wTiting. 
In such a case, a co-author may not separately exercise the author's rights, without the 
""Titten consent of all co-authors. 
However, if the contribution of each belongs to :. different category of art, each co­
author shall have the right to exploit independently his part, without prejudice to the 
exploitation orthe work of joint authorship, unless otherwise agreed in writing. 
lillY of the co-authors shall have the right to initiate legal proceedings in case of 
infringement of copyright. 
Vi/here a co-author dies without a universal 0:::-singular successor, the share of that co­
au.thor shall devolve to the other co-authors or their successors, unless otherwise agreed in 
wntmg. 
Article 175 
The natural person or legal entity under whose direction the joint work was created shall 
have alone the right to exercise the author's ri::hts with respect to u"lat work. 
Article 176 
V/here a work is published anonymously or under pseudonym, the publisher shall be 
preSlIDJed empowered by the author to exercise the rights provided for in this Law, unless the 
author has appointedancther agent or revealed his identity and his capacity. 
A.rtide 177 
(1) Shall be considered as cc-authors of an audiovisual, audio or visual work: 
(i) The author ofthe scenario or written idea for the program; 
(ii) The person who makes an adaptation of an existing literlliJ work for an 
audiovisual production; 
The author of the dialogue; 
(iv) The composer oftne illusic if composed specifically far the work; 
(v) The director who positively contributes from the intellectual paint of view to the 
making oft.1-}e work. 
vvl1ere the \vork is a vulga.rization or an extract of a preexisting work, the author of that 
preexisting work shall be considered as co-author of the new work. 
(L) The amhor of the scen2.t""1o, the person who makes an adaptation oflhe liTelil.lJ work, the 
author oflL1e dialogue and the director shall jointly have the right to transmit: or project 
the audio, visual or audiovisual work despite 2.t'1Y opposition made by the aut.1or of the IPINIlIEGYIII 1 
Page 56 
original literary work or composer of the music, without prejudice to the rights of the 
opposing author deriving from the co-authorship. 
(5) The author of the lite:i';.ry portion or the musical portion shall have the right to publisb his 
work in a manner other than the one in which the said work of co-:mthorship is 
published, unless otheC':'/lse agreed in writing. 
(6) Where a co-author of an audiovisual, audio or visual work fails to complete his part, the 
other co-authors may not be prevented from using the completed portion, without 
prejudice to the rights ofthai: co-author deriving from his co-authorship. 
(7) Throughout the period of the agreed exploitation ofthe audiovisual, audio aT visual work, 
the producer shall :-5present the authors of that work and their successors in any 
agreement for th~ exploitation onhe said work, withol!.t prejudice to the rights of the 
authors afthe quoted or adapted literary or musical works, and unless otherwise agreed in 
writing. he producer shall be considered as the publisher of such a work and shall enjoy 
the publisher's rights with respect to the work and copies thereof, within the limits of its 
commercial exploitation. 
Article 178 
The person who makes a picture may not publish, exhibit or distribute the original or 
copies ofthCit pier-we vlithout the authorization ofthe person or persons whose picture was 
taken, unless otherwise agreed. However, such a picture may be published ifit concerned 
public events, official or public personalities, or persons of local or worldwide renovm; or if 
the publication was authorized by public authorities in the public interest, provided that such 
exhibition or circulation of that picture shall not cause prejudice to the honoT, reputation or 
digrrity ofthat person. 
The person whose picture was taken may authorize the publication of the picture in 
nevvspapers 3...'1d other similarpublicat1ons, even without the authorization of the author of the 
picture, unless otherwise agreed. 
The preceding provisions shall apply whatever the process used for making the picture, 
such as by drawing, engraving or any other process. 
Article 179 
h: case of infringement of ru.1Y right provided for in this Book, the president of the 
competent court dealing with the merits of the case, upon a request made by an interested 
party, may order, by petition, one or more of the following conservatory measures: 
'1 ) (, 
1'1 ) 
~L 
(3 ) Drawing up a detailed description of the work, the perforrnilllce, 1i~e sound recording or 
the broadcast progrlliu; 
Discontinuance of publication, exrjbi~ion, reproduction or manufacturing of the work, 
'G.'le DerforrrlaDce, the sound recordino or Ihe broadca5';n o pro rrr?m " .... 0 ~ '-J.. ~ ~ 2 ............ , 
Seizure of t..he original copy, or copies, of Lhe work, audio recording or broadcasting 
program lliId seizure of the material used for the re-publication or reproduction of such (5) IP/N/lIEGYlVl 
Page 57 
work, performance, audio recording or broadcasting program, provided that such 
material could be used only for such rep-publication of the work, perfonnmce, audio 
recording or L.'1.e broadcast program; 
Establishing the infringement of the protected right; 
Assessing, and in all cases seizure of, the income made as a result of the exploitation of 
the work, the performance, the audio recording or the broadcaSt program. 
In all cases, the president of the court may designate one or more experts to assist the 
bailiff in charge of the execution of such measures. The presidenT shall require from the 
requesting party to submit an appropriate security. 
The requesting party shall be required to submit the merits of the C2 .. se to the court 
within 15 d~ys following the grant 0fthe order, otherwise such order shall cease to hay~ 
effect. 
Article 180 
The concemed party may, within 30 days from the date of the grant or publication of 
that order, appeal to the president of the court who issued the order. The president may 
confirm or "evoke the order totally or partly or designate a custodian for the re-publication, 
exploitation, exJ:ibition, manuf(l.ctur1:J€ or reproduction of the work, sound recording or 
broadcasI program. Tile reSUlting income shall be deposited in the court's treasury lLTltil the 
dispute has been settled. 
Article 181 
'Without prejUdice to any more severe sanction under any other law, sball be punishable: 
by imprisOIhl1ent faY a period of not less than one month and by a fine of not less than 5,000 
pounds a..T'J.d not more than 10,000 pounds, or any of those sanctions, any person who commits 
any oftbe foliowing acts: 
(1) Selling, renting or putting in circulation lL.'1der 3.J."1y fOrID, a work, a sound recording or a 
broadcast program protected under this Law, without a prior written authorization from 
the author or the ovmer of the related right; 
(2) Knowingly imitating, selling, offering for sale, circulation or rental, a work, a sound 
recording or a broadcast progr3J.u; 
(3) K.nowingly imitating witrin the country, selling, offering for sale or circulation, renting 
or exponing to a foreign country a work, a sound recording or a broadcast program 
published in a foreign country; 
(4) Dissemination througcl. computer networks, l"1temet, information networks, 
corruulli"1ication networks and other means of tecDTlology of a work, an sound recording, 
a broadcast program or a perfoITl13.J."1ce protected under this Law, without a prior vninen 
autJlODzation from the author or the owner of the related ri~i-}t; IPINlllEGYlIIl 
Page 58 
(6) 
(7) Manufacturing, assembling or importing for the p~!rpose of sale or rent any device, tool 
or implement especially designed or made to ciricu!11vent a technical protection means, 
such as encryption or the like, used by the autho:: or the O\VIler of the related right; 
Removing, neutralizing or disabling, in bad faith. <my technical protection device used 
by the author or the O\.VIler ofthe related rights; 
Infringing any of the moral or economic copyrights or related· rights provided for in this 
Law. 
Sanctions shall be mUltiplied according to the number of infringed works, sOlmd 
recordings, broadcast programs or performances. 
In case of repetition, the punisbment shall consist of imprisorunent for a period of not 
less than three months and a fIne of not less than 10,000 pounds and not more than 50,000 
pounds. 
In all cases, the court shall order the confIscation of the inffwging copies, those 
obtained as a result of infringement, as well as equipment and implements used to cOIlIImt the 
infringement. 
b. case of conviction, the court may also order the closure of the establishment used by 
the convicted person to commit his infringement, for a period of not more than six months. In 
case of repetition, the closure shall be mandatory in the cases of infringement provided for 
under items (ii) and (iii) of this Article. 
TI.2:e court shall order the pUblication of a sumrnaryofthe judgement in one ohnore 
newspapers at the expense ofthe convicted person .. 
Article 182 
INhere the parties in dispute agree to arbitration, the provisions of the j\rbitration Law 
on Civil and Commercial Disputes No. 27 of 1994 shall apply, unless othenvise agreed. 
Article 183 
The competent ministry shall grant liceC1se for the cornmerci2.1 or professional 
exploitation of works, sound recordings, performance or broadcast prograr:ns u1at fall into the 
public domain, against payment of fees, as prescribed by the Regulations, and not exceeding 
1,000 pounds. 
Article 184 
Publishers, printers and producers of works, sOlL'1d recordings, perfo;:mance r:::cordings 
and broadcast programs shall be required jointly to deposit one or more copies, not exceeding 
10, of their works. The competem illL.'lisIer shall decide Lhe number of such copies er ilieir 
equivalent substitu.tes, taking into cODsidera[ion The nature of each work., and u1e place of 
deposit. IPIN/1/EGYlIJl 
Page 59 
F3:ilureto depoSIT shaIlnot affect the author;s rights and related rights provided for 
under this Law. 
The publisher, printer or producer who violate the provision of the first paragraph of 
this Anicle shall be punishabk hy a fine of not less than L,OOO pounds and not more than 
3,000 pounds per work, sound recording or broadcast program. The obligation to deposit shall 
remain applicable. 
This requirement shall n::)t apply to works published in newspapers, magazines and 
periodicals, except where the work is published separately. 
Article 185 
A register shall be established with the competent ministry in which any act of disposal 
relating to works, performances, sound recordings and broadcast programs under the 
provisions ofthis Law shall be recorded. The Regulations shall determine the procedures for 
the registration against payment ofa fee of not more than 1,000 pounds for each work. 
The disposal shall not be valid with respect to third parties prior to such registration. 
Article 186 
Any person may obtain from the competent ministry a certificate for 2. deposited work, 
recorded performance, sound recording or broadcast program, against pa)rment of a fee 
prescribed by the Regulations not exceeding 1,000 pounds fOT" t;;Cl.~h such certificate. 
Article 187 
Any establishment that puts in circulation works, recorded performances, sound 
recordings or broadcast programs through sale, rent, loan or licensing, shall be required to: 
(i) Obtain a license from the competent minister against payment of a fee prescribed by the 
Regulations, not exceeding 1,000 pounds; 
(ii) Maintain registers in which data and circulation year rela.ting to each work, sound 
recording or broadcast program are recorded. 
Without prejUdice to any more severe sanction under any other law, violation of the 
provisions of this Article shall be punishable by Cl fine ornot less than 1,000 pounds and not 
more than 5,000 pounds. 
1"'1 case of repetition, the punishment shall be a fme of not less than 10,000 pounds and 
nOT more than 20,000 pounds. 
Article 188 
The MiniSTer of Justice, in 3£[eement \virh the competent minister shall issue a decision - ~, 
designating law enforcement officers for the purposes of this Law. IPINIl/EGYlIIl 
Page 60 
BOOK FOUR 
PLA1~T VARIETIES 
Article 189 
Under the provisions of this Law, protection is granted to plant varieties, derived inside 
or outside Egypt, whether developed through biological or non-biological means, when 
registered in the special register of protected plant varieties. 
Article 190 
The Prime Minister shall establish an office to be known as the Office of Plant Variety 
Protection. The Office shall be competent to receive, examine and decide on applications 
submitted for the protection of plant varieties, in accordance with the rules and procedures 
stipulated in the establishment decision. 
Article 191 
'Without prejudice to intemati0nd cc',-lventions in force in Egypt, any natural person or 
legaJ entity, Egyptian or foreign, belonging to, domiciled or active in a country or an entity 
that is a member ofthe World Trade Organization or that applies reciprocity to Egypt, shall 
have the right to protection of plant varieties as prescribed in this Book. 
Article 192 
To be eligible for protection a variety shall be ne'l-V, distinct, upjform, stable and shall be 
subject of a denomination. 
A variety shall be considered new if, at the filing date oft.'rJe application, the vegetation 
propagation of the variety was not sold or otherwise transmitted to third parties by the breeder 
or with his consent for the exploita.tion of the variety. A variety shall not lose its novelty ifit 
was exposed or circulated in Egypt for more thilll one year prior to the effective filing date of 
the application. VVhere a variety has been exposed or circulated OUTside Egypt, such period 
shall not exceed six years in case of trees and vines or four yeill-s for other crops. The variety 
shall also satisfy the condition of novelty where the sale or disposal to others, with the 
consent ofthe breeder, has taken place prior to the granting of :;rotection to such variety. 
A variety shall be considered distinct if it is distinguishable from other known plant 
varieties, by one or more obvious characteristics, provided that the variety maintains this 
characteristic after propagation. 
A vill--iety shall be considered uniform whe:1 L~e variations Ch"TIOng its class remain within 
pem1issible limits. IPINI1/EGYIV1 
Page 61 
A variety shall be considered stable, when replanted, if its essential characteristics do 
not change after repeated propagation for a period prescribed in the Regulations. 
A breeder's right certificate shall be granted to the per::on, whether a natural person or a 
legal entity, who discovers the plant variety that fulfills the p:-otection conditions. 
Article 193 
The term of protection for plant varieties shall be 25 y:::ars for trees and vines and 20 
years for other crops. 
The term of protection shall run from the date of the grant. 
Nevertheless, a variety, for which a breeder's right is requested, shall be granted a 
temporary protection starting from the date of the filing of the application and expires on the 
date of the publication of the grant of the title. During ~ljs period, the breeder's right as 
stipulated in Arti.c1e 194, shall be limited to a fair compensation as soon as such protection is 
granted, provided. that the breeder has notified his application to the party that has been 
exploiting the plant variety prior to granting the protection. 
A.rtide 194 
The holder of a breeder's right certificate shall have an exclusive right to the 
commercial exploitation of the protected variety in any form whatsoever. The production, 
propagation, circulation, sale, marketing, importing, exporting of propagation material shall 
not be allowed without the written consent of the variety breeder.. 
Article 195 
The protection shall not prevent ~hlrd parties from the following acts: 
(i) Non-commercial activities ili'Ld use ofihe result of propagation material, by 
farmers on their own holdings for private propagating purposes~ 
(ii) Activities related to experiments and scientific research purposes; 
(iii) Activities of breeding, cross-breeding and selection for the purpose of breeding 
new vanetles; 
(d) Activities related to teaching and training pLLrposes; 
(e) Activities of use, cOlllil1ercial exploitation and consumption of the crop material, 
prime and intermediate material and finished products, which are made or 
derived directly or indirectly from the crop material, whether u~e crop material is 
an entire plant or pa.c'i thereof. 
Article 196 
The Office of Plant V3.J..-rery Protection, on submission by the Minister of Arnculture 
and after the approval of a ministerial committee established by a decision ofth::: Prime IPIN/1IEGYIIJ1 
Page 62 
Minister, ma.:;r (~:rant non-voluntary licenses to use and exploit the protected variety withODt 
the consent of the breeder, when necessary to safeguard the public interest and where the 
breeder fails tJ produce the variety on his own or to provide the propagation material of the 
protected variety, and where he refuses to grant third parties license for the exploitation cfthe 
variety, despiI:; the appropriate conditions offered, or where he practices unfair competition. 
The bre:eder is entitled to fair compensation for the ilse and exploitation, by third 
parties, during the non-voluntary license period. The assessment of such compensation shdl 
take into consicieration the economic value of the variety. 
Article 197 
In accordance with the provisions of Article 196, the licensee shall, during the period of 
the license, abide by the conditions of the license and shall not assign the license to a third 
party or p!"ejudice other rights of the breeder. 
The license shall lapse at the end of its duration or where the licensee does not comply 
with any of the terms of the license. 
Article 198 
The breeder's rights on the material of the protected vari ety shall lapse if offered by him 
or by his consent for circulation outside Egypt. In this case, third parties are entitled to 
circulate, sell, commercialize, distribute OI impc:-::c the protected variety whether in the form of 
propagation material 0, crop material from an entire plant or part thereof or products derived 
or manufactured from the crop er other plant components. 
The breeder has the right to prevent others from exporting the protected va.riety if such 
exportation WOEld lead to the propClgatioll ofthe variety in a country where the variety does 
not enjoy protection. 
Article 199 
The Mit.""1ister of Ag:iculture may, on the recommendation of the ministerial committee 
referred to in iutic1e 196, limit the exercise of the breeder of all or some of his rights provided 
for in this Law in any manner with i:...'-le aim of safegtrarding the public interest, and in 
particular if it appears that the protected plant variety: 
(a) has hca-:mful effecl:S on the natural environment, the safety of biological diversity, the 
agriculttrral sector, the life or health ofhmnans, animals or plants, in Egypt; 
(b) has harmful economic or SOCi2J effects, hampers local agricultural actiyities, or it 
appecu-s that its use is incompatible with the values and beliefs of me community. 
Article 200 
The breeder snall disclose the 2:enetic source relied on to develoD the new DlculL varieLY_ ---' __.L'" 
The protecIion orthe new plant varie:y requires thal the breeder has acquired u~at source by 
legitimate means under the Egypriac'1 lcow. IP/NI1 IEGYIlJ1 
Page 63 
Such a requirement extends to traditional knowledge ru"'1d eX:~jerience accumulated 
among local communities the breeder could have relied on in his· ffforts to develop the new 
plant variety. 
Likewise, the breeder who deals with Egyptian genetic SOll.:-ces, with a view to develop 
new varieties derived therefrom, shall undertake to obtain the appiovaI of the relevant 
competent administrative authorities. He shall also undertake to acknowledge the Egyptian 
traditional knowledge as sources to what he could have achieved using such knowledge and 
experience, throug..h the disclosure of the Egyptian source the breeder benefited from, and by 
sharing the profits gained with the interested party, as prescribed iD the Regulations of this 
Law. 
A register shall be established in the Ministry of Agriculture to include the genetic 
Egyptian plants, both wild and domesticated. 
Article 201 
The Office of Plant Variety Protection shall issue breeder's right certificates in 
accordance with the procedures prescribed in the Regulations, against a fee prescribed therein, 
not exceeding 5.000 pounds. 
The grant of such ~ certificate shall be published, at the expense of the title holder, hI a 
monthly gazette issued b)l rhe Office. "Where an application is rejected, the applicant shail be 
infOI1Iled ortbe :rt~ection decision and the reasons thereof iillY interested party lTI2.y, within 
15 days from the publication date or the date of notification, oppose the decision to grailt ~ 
breeder's right certificate 0r to reject an application for the protection of a plant variety, as 
may be tbe case. 
The Regulations shall prescribe the rules and procedures for the notification, 
eXllillinai:l0n ofIhe appe:::1 ~'1d the decision thereon. 
Article 202 
Where a variety loses one of the conditions required for granting a breeder's right, or 
when granted in violation of the provisions of this Law, t.~e certificate oftne breeder's right 
shall be cancelled in accordmce with L1}e rules and procedures as decided by the Minister of 
Agriculture. 
Notification oUhis decision to the concerned Darties shall be in a rezistered letter with , to 
acknowledgement of leceipt, and may be appealed within 15 days from the dale of 
notification. 
r:'le Minister of Agriculture shall issue a decision establishing the rules and procedures 
for examination and settlement of~he appeaL 
Article 203 
WithoUl prejudice to any more se''.'er::: punisl-Ll1ent under CUT," other law, deliberaIe 
yioialioo of Lhe provisioos contained i;} this Book shall be ;:Jl.LTJ.ish~ble by a noe of oot less 
tha.11 10,000 pouods a:::ld oat more thruj 50,000 pouods. IP/N/1/EGYIIIl 
Page 64 
In case of repetition, the punishme;Jt shall be an imprisol1Jllent for a period of not less 
than three months and not more than one year and a fine of not less than 20,000 pounds and 
not more than 100,000 pounds. 
In all cases, the incriminated seeds and the propagating materials shall be confiscated. 
Article 204 
Upon the request of any concemeG party, the president of the competent court 
considering the merits of the case, may issue a decision, by petition, to order one or more of 
the appropriate conservatory measures, and in particular: 
(1) Establishing LT1fringement of a protected right. 
(2) Drawing a detailed invefitory 2.Dd detailed description ofthe infringing products a...'1d the 
implements used or may be used in the infringement. 
(3) SeizLlTe of all ru-tic1es stated in item 2. 
III all cases, the president may designate one or more experts to assist the baiiiff h'1 
charge ofthe e.xc:cution of such measures. He may require the applicam to deposit an 
appropriate financial security_ 
I?lhere the applicant fails to submit the merits of the case to th~ competent court, wiL1Un 
15 days following the date of the order, such order shall cease to have effect. 
Article 205 
The concemedparties may, within 30 days from the date of issue orpubIicatiol1ofthe 
order, as may be the case, appeal to the president of the court who issued that oIcier. The:; 
president may confirm or revoke the order totally or partly, in accordance with t~e mles a,.T}d 
procedures provided for under the law of civil and corn..."'11ercial proceedings. 
Article 206 
The Ivfinister of Justice, in agreement with the Minister of Agriculture, shall issue a 
decision designating law enforcement officers for the purpose of implem:::nting the provis10ns 
CDnt:ained in this Book. 
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