Saudi Arabia - Conflict between: Mario Zegnoti and Zegna On April 31st 2004, our client, Limabond Ltd filed a trade mark application for Mario Zignoti in class 25 in respect of all goods included in the class, namely ready-made clothes, men's shirts, and women's blouses, which was published on the 19th of August 2004 in the Official Gazette (Umm Al Kura), and was open for an opposition period of 90 days. Consitex S.A and Lanificio Ermenegildo Zengna S.P.A. have filed an opposition against the said application based on confusing similarity with their prior registrations in Saudi Arabia and abroad of ZEGA, ZENA SPORT, Ermenegildo Zengna and their trade name Mario Zegna. After several hearings, the court found that the likelihood of confusion did not exist, and issued its decision in our client’s favor. Consitex S.A. appealed the decision before the Bureau of Grievance (The High Court of Justice). Finally, after several sessions, the Bureau of Grievance issued its decision to reject the appeal and continue the registration procedures of our client’s trademark (Mario Zignoti). Consitex S.A did not accept the decision and requested Special Panel of Supreme Court Judges to review the decision. In its turn, the Special Panel has confirmed the Bureau of Grievance judgment on the 5th of September 2006. For further information please contact us on saudi-arabia@qumsieh.com. Iraq - Updates This is to advise that as of the 5th of October 2006, the Iraqi Trademark office (ITMO) has changed its practice and is now requesting to provide a translation for any mark applied for registration. Accordingly, the filing requirements are now as follows: Applicant details, in both Arabic and English. 20 prints of the mark, and they must contain the transliteration of the foreign characters at the top of the print. Translation of the mark. List of goods, in English and Arabic, must be given in specific details, even though Iraq follows the International Classification; each class is divided into sub-classes, and the sub-class must be named in each application. Multi-class applications are possible. In order to review the Iraqi sub-classes, please visit our web site www.qumsieh.com, go to Trademarks, then Iraq, and after that you can go to general information and check it out. Should you have any inquiry regarding Iraq, please contact iraq@qumsieh.com. Sudan - Updates This is to advice that the Sudan Trademark Registrar has issued a statement in which advising that any power issued in respect trademark matters is valid for 5 years. Need-less to remind our clients and associates that filing requirements are: Power attorney are simply signed. Certificate of Incorporation or an Extract from the Commercial Register duly legalized up to Sudanese consulate. At the time of registration, the Sudan Trademark office will request to provide with a letter from the applicant attesting that the company did not change its name and address nor sold the mark. If you need more information, please contact us on sudan@qumsieh.com.   If you have any question regarding any of the above, please refer to news@qumsieh.com