Bahrain and the European Patent Office (EPO) have strengthened their cooperation through new bilateral agreements aimed at enhancing efficiency within the patent system and aligning international patent practices.

As part of this collaboration, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on bilateral cooperation took effect on January 12, 2025 and will remain in force until the end of 2027. This framework facilitates resource and knowledge sharing between Bahrain’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MOIC) and the EPO, with a focus on streamlining the processing of international and national applications.

A key component of this initiative is the launch of a Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot program, which commenced on March 1, 2025 for an initial two-year period. Under this program, applicants filing with the MOIC may request accelerated examination at the EPO if their claims have been deemed patentable in Bahrain, and vice versa. By leveraging prior examination results, the PPH reduces redundancy and expedites the overall patent process.

Bahrain has also established PPH agreements with other major IP offices, including the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), the Japan Patent Office (JPO), the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), and the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP).

By expanding its participation in PPH programs, Bahrain is reinforcing its commitment to enhancing patent examination efficiency and providing foreign applicants with faster access to patent protection in Bahrain and local applicants with faster access to patent protection across multiple jurisdictions.

For further information, contact news@sabaip.com.