Rezvanian International | View firm profile
On April 27, 2025, Iran officially approved the Law on the Accession of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Vienna Agreement Establishing an International Classification of the Figurative Elements of Marks. This legislation marks a significant milestone in Iran’s intellectual property landscape.
Originally adopted in 1973 and amended in 1985, the Vienna Agreement introduced a global classification system—the Vienna Classification—that categorizes marks containing or comprising figurative elements based on their shape. The system aims to streamline trademark searches and reduce the need for extensive reclassification during cross-border document exchanges. Signatory countries may adopt the Vienna Classification either as their primary or a subsidiary system, allowing them to continue using their national classifications alongside the international standard. Under this agreement, designated offices are required to include classification numbers—corresponding to specific categories, divisions, and sections—in official documents and publications related to mark registration for the figurative components of marks.
A trademark may feature a figurative element rather than words. Previously, to search for trademarks in Iran, applicants relied on words and phrases within marks or conducted searches through the Nice Classification for goods and services. However, following this legislative approval, applicants will now be able to search trademarks based on their figurative elements.
This development demonstrates Iran’s commitment to aligning its intellectual property framework with international standards. Going forward, alongside the Nice Classification for goods and services, Iran’s Intellectual Property Office will also apply the Vienna Classification for the figurative elements of marks. This classification system aims to simplify the registration and search processes for trademarks featuring logos, symbols, or other graphic elements.