Jordan has passed several laws in compliance with international commitments to the protection of intellectual property rights (IPR).  Laws consistent with Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) now protect trade secrets, plant varieties, and semiconductor chip designs.  The Ministry of Culture’s National Library Department is responsible for registering copyrights, while patents and trademarks are registered with the Registrar of Patents and Trademarks at the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply.  Jordanian firms can seek joint ventures and licensing agreements with multinational partners.   

Jordan’s record on IPR enforcement has improved in recent years, but there remains room for more effective enforcement mechanisms and legal procedures.  A large portion of videos and software sold in the marketplace continues to consist of pirated content, and many retail outlets openly sell television set top boxes that provide access to pirated content.  Enforcement action against audio/video and software piracy is growing in frequency and improving in its targeting capability.  For example, a public-private committee was recently formed to combat audio/video piracy.  In addition, the government has launched targeted campaigns to increase public awareness around intellectual property rights. 

In any foreign market, companies should consider several general principles for effective protection of their intellectual property. For background, please see Protecting Intellectual Property and Stopfakes.gov for more resources.

As a resource for American stakeholders and to improve IPR systems in Jordan and the region, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office places an Intellectual Property Attaché for the Middle East and North Africa region based in the U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi, UAE.  Please see: IP Attaché — Abu Dhabi | USPTO.

To access the Jordan Investment Climate Statement, which includes information on the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights, visit the U.S. Department of State Investment Climate Statement website.

Jordan’s record on IPR enforcement has improved in recent years, but there remains room for more effective enforcement mechanisms and legal procedures.  A large portion of videos and software sold in the marketplace continues to consist of pirated content, and many retail outlets openly sell television set top boxes that provide access to pirated content.  Enforcement action against audio/video and software piracy is growing in frequency and improving in its targeting capability.  For example, a public-private committee was recently formed to combat audio/video piracy.  In addition, the government has launched targeted campaigns to increase public awareness around intellectual property rights. 

In any foreign market, companies should consider several general principles for effective protection of their intellectual property. For background, please see Protecting Intellectual Property and Stopfakes.gov for more resources.

As a resource for American stakeholders and to improve IPR systems in Jordan and the region, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office places an Intellectual Property Attaché for the Middle East and North Africa region based in the U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi, UAE.  Please see: IP Attaché — Abu Dhabi | USPTO.

To access the Jordan Investment Climate Statement, which includes information on the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights, visit the U.S. Department of State Investment Climate Statement website.