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Bahrain- Registration of Patents and
Utility Models are now available
Due to the issuance of the new Patent and Utility Model Law, No. 2004, the
Bahrain Patent Office (BPO) had ceased to receive any patent application from
January 28, 2004 until the promulgation of the Implementing Regulations.
As of June 14, 2006 the BPO has resumed receiving patent and utility model
applications.
The main aspects of the new Law are:
Duration:
- Patent duration is 20 years instead of 15 years earlier.
- Utility Models are protected for 10 years, which was not available
before.
Payment of annuities:
- Annuities are to be paid after filing, calculated as of the filing or
priority date.
- Previously there were no maintenance fees to be paid for patents.
Patent filing requirements:
- Simply signed power of attorney.
- The full particulars of the applicant.
- The title of the patent and a summary description of the invention.
- Photocopy of patent application from home/ foreign country.
- Certified copy of priority document.
- Specification claims and three sets of the formal drawings with Arabic
translation thereto.
Qatar- Stricter policy at the Trademark Office as of
15 July 2006
The Qatari Trademark Office (QTMO) is now insistent on applying the
regulations announced in a meeting which they held with Trademark Attorneys on
February 9, 2006.
In this meeting, the Registrar advised that all documents must accompany the
application when filed.
The required documents are:
- Power of attorney legalized up to the Qatari Consulate or any other Arab
consulate.
- Certified copy of Commercial Register or Certificate of Incorporation.
On the other hand, newly-filed applications will be examined immediately
after filing. Simultaneously, pending applications filed since June 2002 will
also be examined and finalized.
Mozambique New Industrial Property Code
The Mozambique authorities have issued a new Law with effect from June 12,
2006 in order to be harmonized with international treaties, simplifying the
registration procedure, and to avoid and cover the gaps in the old Law.
The most important point brought forward by the new Law is that the basis of
application must be stated, i.e. if the application is based on use or intent to
use.
For earlier applications/ registrations, owners have to file a declaration of
use in order to keep their current marks valid.
The declaration of use must be filed every 5 years as of filing date.
The new law has no provisions of proof of use or stating a grace period to
submit the said Declaration.
Lebanon- Announcement
Due to the War, the Lebanon Trademark Office (LTMO) is partially operation
The NJQ Office was not hit, and all our staff are safe as of now.
If you have any question regarding any of the above, please refer to
news@qumsieh.com
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Newsletter: August
