Are Iraqi stamps public domain?

It depends on the date. In the archive's reading, Iraqi stamps issued in 1975 or earlier are public domain in 2026, 50 years after publication, and the cutoff moves forward each January. Wikimedia Commons' note on stamps gives no test that frees later ones.

When will a 1980 Iraqi stamp be public domain?

On January 1, 2031. In the archive's reading, Iraqi stamps are public domain 50 years after publication, counted to January 1, so a stamp issued in 1980 stays protected through the end of 2030.

Are Mesopotamia stamps public domain?

It is an open question. The Mesopotamia issues were Ottoman stamps overprinted by British forces during the occupation of World War I, and they are more than 50 years old, but Wikimedia Commons' note on Iraqi stamps does not say which law covers them.

Iraq

Are Iraq stamps public domain?

Iraqi stamps issued in 1975 or earlier are public domain, in the archive's reading of Wikimedia Commons. Commons frees stamps published more than 50 years ago, counted to January 1, so the cutoff moves forward each January. Commons' note on stamps gives no test that frees later ones.

Why 1975?

Commons' note on Iraqi stamps gives one test: stamps published before January 1 of the year 50 years back, which in 2026 means before January 1, 1976, may use its license tag for Iraq.¹ Commons' page on Iraq says Copyright Law No. 3 of 1971, as amended in 2004 by Order No. 83, protects works of a legal entity, and anonymous works, for 50 years from first publication.¹ That tag also lists other tests, among them works of a public or private body published by January 1, 1980, under the shorter 30-year term of the 1971 law.² Commons' note on stamps does not apply them, and the archive does not yet follow them; it uses the 50-year date.

Postal history and copyright

The area was part of the Ottoman Empire, came under British control during World War I, and gained nominal independence as the Kingdom of Iraq in 1932.¹ According to Wikipedia, British forces overprinted Ottoman stamps during the occupation, the issues known as Mesopotamia, and the first stamps of Iraq appeared in 1923 under the British mandate.³ The 2004 amendment was an order of the Coalition Provisional Authority, and it was not retroactive: it did not restore protection that had already ended under the 1971 law.¹ Commons' note on stamps does not say which law covers the Ottoman and occupation issues; the question is open.

References 3

↑ Copyright rules for Iraq. Wikimedia Commons, September 3, 2026. Accessed October 8, 2026.
↑ Wikimedia Commons license tag (Iraq). Wikimedia Commons, August 7, 2024. Accessed October 8, 2026.
↑ Postage stamps and postal history of Iraq. Wikipedia, January 8, 2026. Accessed October 8, 2026.

Copyright law in Iraq

Iraq’s own stamps follow the rule below. The historical issuers named here are read under the country’s general copyright law. A design answers Likely yes or Likely no only when every term that could apply agrees, and Unclear when they disagree.

Named designer: 50 years after the designer’s death
Anonymous: 50 years from issue
Before 2004: 25 years after the designer’s death.
Older stamps: A stamp already in the public domain stayed there when the term was extended.
Note: Stamps issued more than 50 years ago are public domain. Under the 1971 law, work owned by an organization ran 30 years from publication.

Historical issuers read under this law: Baghdad (British Occupation), Iraq (British Occupation), Mesopotamia, Mosul (Indian Forces).

Read from Wikimedia Commons, copyright rules for Iraq, revision 1271778852, checked October 8, 2026

The rule by period

PeriodRule

Any datePublic domain 50 years after the end of the year of issue.Commons frees stamps published more than 50 years ago, counted from January 1.

Iraq stamps and the public domain: questions

Are Iraqi stamps public domain?: It depends on the date. In the archive's reading, Iraqi stamps issued in 1975 or earlier are public domain in 2026, 50 years after publication, and the cutoff moves forward each January. Wikimedia Commons' note on stamps gives no test that frees later ones.
When will a 1980 Iraqi stamp be public domain?: On January 1, 2031. In the archive's reading, Iraqi stamps are public domain 50 years after publication, counted to January 1, so a stamp issued in 1980 stays protected through the end of 2030.
Are Mesopotamia stamps public domain?: It is an open question. The Mesopotamia issues were Ottoman stamps overprinted by British forces during the occupation of World War I, and they are more than 50 years old, but Wikimedia Commons' note on Iraqi stamps does not say which law covers them.