With its significant geopolitical position in South Asia that provides the country with convenient access to the international market, Pakistan is nestled in the cradle of the historical Indus Valley civilization, which dates back at least 5,000 years. In a more contemporary context on the legal scene, Pakistan maintains a relatively comprehensive regulatory and legislative ...
With the exponential rise of digital media, coupled with the ubiquity of smart devices, esports is a pastime that entertains millions of fans and generates billions of dollars that are up for grabs. Streaming services, especially during the global lockdown, have transformed even the most casual gamers into serious contenders, with a select few reaching ...
As the region awaits an update from the GCC Patent Office on resuming regional patent filings, the Secretariat General of the GCC in the meantime published the amendments to the GCC Patent Law, which were approved in the last meeting of the GCC summit. The amended law was published in the Official Gazette No. 22 ...
Given the recent trend in going paperless in the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the Kuwaiti Patent Office (KPO) announced that it will begin receiving and processing patent applications in electronic form as of May 19, 2021, via its online platform. This development, which follows the recently announced examination, publication, and grant ...
In its ongoing efforts to advance the intellectual property scene in the country, Oman ratified its instrument of accession to the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement on Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications. The Geneva Act will enter into force in Oman on June 30, 2021. With this update, Oman is the first country ...
On February 1, 2021, the Lebanese Domain Registry (LBDR) announced a major change of its policies for the registration and renewals of the “.lb ccTLD” domain names. According to the new policy, the registration and maintenance of an “.lb” domain name will no longer be free, as it had been since the establishment of the ...
The Trademark Office in the United Arab Emirates (TMO) announced that the legalized power of attorney (POA) may be submitted within 30 days from filing date. Prior to this procedural change, the POA had to be submitted to the TMO at the time of filing. Oppositions and appeals are excluded from this update, however, and ...
In a stop-press update, the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP) announced the launch of its very own Intellectual Property Newspaper (IPN) on April 11, 2021. The IPN replaces the old publication portal for all IP matters. The IPN will exclusively be published online and will include bibliographic information and a representative drawing for all ...
In a long awaited move, the Kuwaiti Patent Office (KPO) has begun substantive examination of patent applications and is issuing search and examination reports. The process is still a little shy but is expected to increase as is the case with any new procedure. Furthermore, earlier this year, KPO published two granted patents in its ...
The humble seed is the foundation of agriculture and a major contributor to the global efforts of sustainable food production. The global market for seeds is projected to reach USD 100.36 billion by 2026, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.10 percent over the forecast period. Concurrent with this growth in commercial ...
On December 14, 2020, the US Government announced Sudan’s removal from the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism (the “SST List”). This follows another update, on August 11, 2020, when the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced that US persons are no longer prohibited from engaging in transactions with respect to ...
Given the recent trend in going paperless in the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council, the Trademark Office in Kuwait announced the upcoming activation of the online recordal system. Once fully operational, applicants will be able to submit applications for recordal via the online platform. For the time being, however, the TMO is only ...
With coasts along the Mediterranean basin and a close proximity to Europe, Tunisia occupies a regional position of great importance in North Africa. Tunisia is an export-oriented country that is actively liberalizing and privatizing its economy. The country has a diverse economy, ranging from agriculture, mining, manufacturing, and petroleum products, to tourism. Key exports include ...
With Saudi Arabia’s status as the world’s largest exporter of petroleum and a relentless commitment to promote a robust economic diversification program, the desert nation is a market of strategic and economic importance for international brand owners to consider when enforcing their rights. In an effort to combat such malicious practices by unscrupulous individuals on ...
Given the recent trend in going paperless in the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council, the Patent and Trademark Office in Oman announced that the all trademark services will gradually be conducted online starting with trademark registration on March 7, 2021. These e-services, which will be provided via the PTO’s proprietary “Invest Easy” portal, ...
After a period of almost three-decades on hiatus and following the issuance of Ministerial Decree 1 of 2019, the Somali Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) has officially resumed operations. While the East African nation is expected to issue new legislation on intellectual property, for the time being the pre-federal IP law remains in force. Prior to ...
Given the recent trend in going paperless in the region, the Trademark Office in West Bank is planning on introducing an electronic platform for the filing of trademark applications in the near future. We expect this new practice to pave the way for a smoother trademark registration process in West Bank and to accelerate the ...
The Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP) recently signed a patent prosecution highway agreement with the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA). The PPH agreement is expected to foster and develop a bilateral partnership in the field of intellectual property and to strengthen the relationship between Saudi Arabia and the People's Republic of China. The ...
As part of the ongoing national campaign to maintain the highest level of consumer protection, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) issued Federal Law No. 15 of 2020, colloquially known as the Consumer Protection Law, on November 10, 2020. The new Consumer Protection Law, which repeals the outgoing Federal Law No. 24 of 2006, covers all ...
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) recently ratified its accession to the Strasbourg Agreement Concerning the International Patent Classification and the Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purposes of Patent Procedure. The news concerning the ratification of the Strasbourg Agreement and the Budapest Treaty was announced through Federal Decrees ...
On January 6, 2021, following several decisions that were issued by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Supreme Council during its 41st meeting on January 5, 2021, an amended GCC Patent Law (Regulation) was approved. In a statement made on its official website, the GCC Patent Office (GCCPO) announced that as of January 6, 2021, it ...
Following a list of decisions issued by the GCC Supreme Council during its 41st meeting on January 5, 2021, the amended GCC Patent Law (Regulation) was approved. In a statement made on its official website, the GCC Patent Office (GCCPO) announced that it is not accepting new patent filings. Meanwhile, filing via the Paris Convention ...
With its significant geopolitical position in South Asia that provides the country with convenient access to the international market, Pakistan is nestled in the cradle of the historical Indus Valley civilization, which dates back at least 5,000 years. Local industries include textiles and apparel, food processing, pharmaceuticals, surgical instruments, construction materials, paper products, fertilizer, and ...
The Middle East and North Africa region, more commonly known as MENA, receives its share of news in the international circuit. Saudi Arabia, for example, has been a steadily growing economy, which with the introduction and implementation of a number of reforms, has seen a sudden boom with the diversification of the economy and further ...
The Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP) is continuously proving its prowess after it has successfully confiscated and destroyed more than 3.5 million items that were in violation of intellectual property rights. This news was announced on November 9, 2020 and follows the handover of all copyright-related matters, which include the enforcement of said rights, ...
Our annual “Year in Review” feature sums up the most important intellectual property (IP) news and developments that unfolded over the past year in the Middle East, Africa, and their neighboring regions. This past year has been an exceptional one, to say the least. With the pandemic raging across borders and a global lockdown in ...
In compliance with its mandate to unify all intellectual property (IP) related matters under one centralized agency in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP) announced the formation of the National Committee for the Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights (NCEIP). In addition to the committee’s various responsibilities that include being in charge of ...
The Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP) in Saudi Arabia announced that the definition of a trademark has been broadened and now allows the registration of surnames as marks. The SAIP will assess several aspects when examining the trademark application, including but not limited to: If the surname complies with the conditions and formal registration ...
In a legal precedent that rippled through the cyberspace ether, the authorities concerned in Egypt issued a Court decision to shut down online pages selling counterfeits and products bearing infringing trademarks. In addition to having their illicit online stores deactivated, the perpetrators were sentenced to two years in prison and fined 100,000 Egyptian pounds (around ...
After a long respite, the Trademark Office (TMO) in Libya has resumed the publication of trademarks in the Official Gazette, with the inaugural issue being published on September 23, 2020. The first issue of the Official Gazette listed over 200 trademarks that were published for opposition. Any party who believes it may be damaged by ...
Given the recent trend in going paperless around the globe, the Trademark Office in Myanmar announced the upcoming inauguration of its electronic platform for the filing of trademark applications as of October 1, 2020. A soft launch of the new electronic trademark registration system was scheduled for January of this year, but has since been ...
Following the introduction of value added tax (VAT) in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, Oman issued its own draft VAT Law in early September 2020. Once the Law is approved, the VAT will apply to goods and services at the suggested rate of three percent, with some limited exceptions on basic food ...
The Trademark Office (TMO) in Oman announced that all official fees from filing up to registration must now be settled upfront at the time of filing. Should you have any questions, or require any additional information, please contact us news@sabaip.com
As part of the ongoing national campaign to maintain the highest level of consumer protection, Saudi Arabia recently joined the International Cooperation on Cosmetics Regulation (ICCR). By becoming a member of the ICCR, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) will cooperate and enhance trade with its partners on cosmetic products. Saudi Arabia, represented by ...
Saudi Arabia recently ratified its accession to the Strasbourg Agreement Concerning the International Patent Classification. This news follows Saudi Arabia’s accession to three key World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) treaties: the Budapest Treaty, the Locarno Agreement, and Vienna Agreement. By joining these international intellectual property (IP) treaties, specifically with regard to industrial designs, trademarks and ...
In order to circumvent the time barring of actions and missing any deadlines, the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) in Oman announced that right holders must attend to the necessary action for all matters that were due on or after March 24, 2020 by October 8, 2020 at the latest. Should you have any questions, ...
The Patent Office in Jordan announced that patent examination fees for applications filed after December 9, 2018 are due and must be paid within sixty days from the date of notification. This update applies to all pending national and PCT applications that have completed the filing formalities. By way of background, as part of the ...
In its ongoing efforts to advance the patent protection scene in the country, Saudi Arabia recently ratified the Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purposes of Patent Procedure. With the Treaty in force, the deposit of a microorganism with an International Depositary Authority (IDA) will satisfy the deposit ...
In light of its continuous crackdown on intellectual property infringement and malicious business practices, Saudi Arabia issued a new decision in an effort to curb commercial fraud. New regulations were published in order to assist in eliminating the shady business practices in the country, and such measures include more stringent penalties for offenders of up ...
The Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP) recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Japan Patent Office (JPO). The MOU aims to facilitate the processing, examination, and registration of applications for patents, industrial designs, and trademarks. It is worth noting that the SAIP and the JPO have been implementing a patent prosecution highway ...
The Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP) accepted the first sound trademark application in Saudi Arabia, with the sound represented on the application by a musical notation. The application was examined as to form only, and was subsequently registered. By way of background, according to Article 2 of the Gulf Cooperation Council Trademark Law, the ...
We all experienced the event on August 4, 2020 in a terrifying and disturbing manner, and find ourselves grieving as we tend to our wounds—both physical and emotional. We are grateful for the support and kind words from our friends and colleagues across the world. It is especially in these times that we most cherish ...
In the ongoing effort to address the delay in the litigation process, Egypt has been witnessing the issuance of new laws and much-awaited amendments to local legislation. This article offers a brief overview of the highly welcomed ratification of Law No. 146 of 2019 that amends provisions related to Law No. 120 of 2008. The ...
With their sights set to promote local innovation and nurture a creative ecosystem, the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office (TURKPATENT) published a set of guidelines on employee inventions and inventions made in higher education institutions. With the newly minted guidelines in force, the TURKPATENT aims to provide information and guidance about practices related to inventions ...
Qatar recently issued Law No. 10 of 2020 on the Protection of Industrial Designs in an effort to expand the intellectual property scene in the country. Prior to the issuance of the Law, some sort of protection could be sought out by publishing cautionary notices at regular intervals in local Qatari newspapers. Such notices could ...
In its ongoing efforts to advance the intellectual property protection scene, Egypt recently approved a grant of EGP 47 million (around USD 2.9 million) from South Korea. This news comes in light of Egypt’s vision to increase cooperation with the international community. The grant is expected to advance the management efficiency at the Egyptian Patent ...
As a much welcomed attempt at improving the intellectual property scene in the country, Cyprus issued the Commercial Trademark Act of 2020. The new Law, along with the Implementing Regulations, were published in the Official Gazette and entered into force in June 2020. In addition to increasing the protection period of trademarks from 7 years ...
The Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP) recently issued a new set of Implementing Regulations for the compulsory licensing of patents. This update comes in light of SAIP’s mission to lead the national strategy for the promotion of IP, revising and issuing regulations, providing services in a timely and high-quality manner, increasing IP awareness and ...
In their ongoing efforts to enforce intellectual property rights and protect consumers, the Ajman Department of Economic Development (Ajman DED) seized counterfeit synthetic engine oil worth AED 20 million (around USD 5.5 million). Over 100,000 packets of oil bearing trademarks of Saba IP’s multinational clients were discovered by the authorities concerned, much to the chagrin ...
With the establishment of the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP), Saudi Arabia consolidated all intellectual property (IP) departments under one umbrella. The purpose of this newly-minted local entity is to lead the national strategy for the promotion of IP, revising and issuing regulations, providing services in a timely and high-quality manner, increasing IP awareness and ...
In an effort to facilitate and promote investment in the country, the Implementing Regulations of the Franchising Law were published in the Official Gazette by the Ministry of Commerce on May 22, 2020. By way of background, the Law was approved by the Council of Ministers in October 2019 and entered into force in April ...
The Office of the United States Trade Representative published the Special 301 Report in April 2020, reviewing global developments on trade and intellectual property. Countries in the Middle East and North Africa on the Priority Watch List are Algeria and Saudi Arabia. The Watch List includes Egypt, Kuwait Lebanon, and the United Arab Emirates. It ...
Saudi Arabia announced that the value added tax (VAT) rate will be increased to 15 percent from the current rate of 5 percent effective July 1, 2020. By way of background, VAT was introduced in Saudi Arabia in January 2018 and applied to goods and services, with some limited exceptions on basic food items, healthcare, ...
Despite the global lockdown and worldwide social distancing, the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP) signed a program for exchanging intellectual property data with the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) on April 22, 2020. The program will provide IP information to the public through the exchange of published and registered IP data in both Saudi ...
In its ongoing efforts to advance the intellectual property protection scene in the country, Qatar issued Law no. 10 of 2020 on the Protection of Industrial Designs on April 19, 2020. Prior to the issuance of the Law, protection could be sought out by publishing cautionary notices at regular intervals in local Qatari newspapers. Such ...
In an effort to ensure a regular publication schedule and to streamline the opposition process, trademarks are published online on a monthly basis by the Trademark Office in Zanzibar as of March 1, 2020. Previously, before the introduction of the electronic publication platform at the TMO, the publication of trademark applications was sporadic and infrequent ...
Given the extraordinary nature and consequences of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Intellectual Property Protection Directorate in Qatar (IPO) announced that COVID-19 constitutes a force majeure event. The IPO has already adopted several measures since the beginning of the outbreak, such as reducing the staff to 20 percent and controlling the number of customers ...
Pursuant to Cabinet Decision no. 20 of 2020, the Ministry of Economy in the United Arab Emirates announced a revision in the official fees for a number of services related to intellectual property matters. The reduced fees are significant and cover a range of services, such as trademark applications, registrations, oppositions, assignment recordals, and search ...
In its ongoing efforts to advance the intellectual property scene in Egypt, the Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade of Egypt announced that it will begin accepting applications for the registration of geographical indications. This is a welcome move since GIs will provide added value to local producers and will provide social upliftment for rural ...
Given the recent trend in going paperless in the region, the Trademark Office in Gaza announced that it is planning on introducing an electronic platform for the filing of trademark applications in the near future. The new process will involve uploading an electronic application to the online system, along with a soft copy of the ...
In compliance with its mandate to unify all IP related matters under one authority, in the latest development, trademarks previously managed by Ministry of Trade and Investment, have now been transferred under the umbrella of the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property. With this update, SAIP showcases its efforts as a self-funded agency with consolidated enforcement ...
As governments begin easing travel restrictions in the wake of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), we are witnessing the reopening of several Intellectual Property Offices in the Middle East and North Africa region. With this update, we want to assure you that our main priority remains to ensure the safety and well-being of our people, families, ...
Dear Colleagues, Clients, and Friends, As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to spread in our region and across the globe, we want to assure you that our number one priority is the safety and well-being of our people, families, clients, and the communities in which we live and work. Accordingly, we have put measures in ...
In light of the current coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in Kuwait, the Patent and Trademark Office announced that it will temporarily suspend operations until March 26, 2020. In order to ensure the safety of our people and an uninterrupted service, we will be working remotely during office hours. You may continue to send all your instructions ...
The Trademark Office in West Bank announced that a scanned copy of the power of attorney must be submitted at the time of filing, and the legalized POA may be submitted within three months from the filing date. The outgoing procedure did not require submitted a copy of the POA at the time of filing. ...
Following the issuance of Ministerial Decree no. 361 of 2019 that was published on January 5, 2020, the Ministry of Health (MOH) in Kuwait updated the regulations regarding the registration of pharmaceutical products. In line with local legislation, pharmaceutical products must be registered with the MOH before being imported into the Kuwaiti market by local ...
We have been honored with the Prosecution Firm of the Year award for the United Arab Emirates for 2020, conferred during the MIP’s annual Global Awards ceremony that was held in London on March 5, 2020. We are certainly proud to be showcased and celebrated among the best in our industry. Needless to say, our ...
In light of the current coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in Iraq, the Trademark Office announced that it will temporarily suspend operations until March 16, 2020. The TMO, however, will only be processing all renewals and opposition proceedings that fall during this time period. In order to ensure an uninterrupted service, you may continue to send all ...
Egypt ratified its accession to the International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants, which is known by the acronym UPOV. Egypt became a member of UPOV in December 2019. The filing requirements of a plant variety application in Egypt are as follows: Denomination of the variety Full disclosure of the origin of ...
The Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property signed a memorandum of understanding with the China National Intellectual Property Administration. The MOU aims to facilitate the processing, examination and registration of applications for patents, industrial designs, and trademarks. It also expected to foster and develop a bilateral partnership in the field of intellectual property and to strengthen ...
As a much welcomed attempt at improving the enforcement scene in the country, Saudi Arabia announced that patent and copyright disputes will be settled before specialized Commercial Courts as of February 1, 2020. The Commercial Courts, which will be comprised of three judges, will hear infringement and invalidation cases. By resorting to the legal system, ...
In compliance with its mandate to unify all IP related matters under one authority, in the latest development, patents, layout designs of integrated circuits, plant varieties and industrial designs previously managed by King Abdul Aziz City of Science and Technology, have now been transferred under the umbrella of the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property. Furthermore, ...
The Patent and Trademark Office in Tunisia, known by the French acronym INNORPI, announced an increase in the official fees for all trademark matters. The new fees were published in the Official Gazette and will enter into force on January 24, 2020. In related news, INNORPI also alluded to an upcoming increase in the official ...
The General Organization for Export and Import Control, known by the acronym GOEIC, created a new electronic platform for commercial records. The system went online on November 30, 2018. The e-system allows users to instantly access the records of importers, exporters, production requirements, and the register of agents. On the flipside, this tool facilitates that ...
As a much welcomed attempt at improving the litigation scene in the country, Egypt recently ratified Law No. 146 of 2019 that amends provisions related to Law No. 120 of 2008. The new Law amends the Economic Court Law of 2008, which established eight Economic Courts all over Egypt since October 2008. These Courts have ...
In an effort to encourage the creation of art and culture, the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property announced the launch of the online optional registration service for copyrights in Saudi Arabia. This comes after the Implementing Regulations of the Copyright Law entered into force on December 23, 2019, which confirm the present procedures in Saudi ...
The Gulf Cooperation Council approved the Trademark Law during the annual summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on December 10, 2019. This update follows the Council’s decision to assign the GCC Financial and Economic Committee the task to accredit and implement the necessary decisions related to the joint action in the field of customs union, including ...
Our annual “Year in Review” feature sums up the most important intellectual property news and developments that unfolded over the past year in the Middle East, Africa, and their neighboring regions. The wireless trend continues to gain more and more traction regionally, as we have been witnessing over the years. Algeria, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Iran, Jordan, ...
With the upcoming adoption of the new Trademark Law in January 2020, Myanmar is on the verge of a major legal and economic transformation. Under the outgoing Registration Act, brand owners could register a declaration of ownership and publish a cautionary notice for trademarks every three years to obtain some sort of protection. Under the ...
Saudi Arabia ratified its accession to two key World Intellectual Property Organization treaties: the Locarno Agreement and Vienna Agreement. The Locarno Agreement stipulates procedures for establishing, amending and additionally creating international classification for industrial designs. Contracting states in the Middle East and Africa are Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, India, Iran, and Turkey. Saudi Arabia also joined ...
In its continuous efforts to facilitate investment and innovation, the Dubai International Financial Centre enacted a new law governing all aspects of intellectual property within its territory. The DIFC Intellectual Property Law of 2019—which entered into force today, November 21, 2019—recognizes all IP registrations in the United Arab Emirates, including trademarks, patents, copyrights and industrial ...
In an effort to facilitate and promote investment in the country, the Saudi Council of Ministers approved the Franchising Law on October 8, 2019. The Law was published in the Official Gazette on October 25, 2019 and is expected to enter into force on April 25, 2020. The Ministry of Commerce and Investment will be ...
Registering a trademark is the first step in the effective use of a brand, company, or product name. However, in order to safeguard and enforce valuable marks, brand owners must continuously monitor trademark publications to ensure that those potential trademarks do not infringe or potentially damage their existing rights. Monitoring Trademark Publications through a Dedicated ...
In its ongoing efforts to advance the intellectual property scene in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property recently signed a patent prosecution highway agreement with United States Patent and Trademark Office. The PPH agreement is expected to foster and develop a bilateral partnership in the field of intellectual property and to strengthen the ...
A total of 407 applications were published in the last three issues of the Official Gazette of Ethiopia (June to August 2019). Almost 60 percent of the applications were filed by foreign owners, mostly Chinese, US, and Swiss. Applications in classes 3, 30, and 35 rank the highest in volume during this period. Ethiopia is ...
Given the recent trend in going paperless, the Trademark Office in the United Arab Emirates announced that, as of October 6, 2019, the following services will be conducted exclusively online: (1) filing an opposition, (2) filing a counterstatement, and (3) issuing all post registration recordal certificates. These e-services, among others provided by the TMO, replace ...
Ethiopia, the second most populous country in Africa, is one of the fastest growing states among the 188 International Monetary Fund member countries. This growth, which has been driven by the government’s investment in infrastructure, as well as sustained progress in the agricultural and service sectors, is expected to keep rising in the years to ...
In an effort to encourage the creation of art and culture, the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters recently issued the Implementing Regulations of the Copyright Law. The Implementing Regulations entered into force on July 28, 2019 and are expected to pave the way to a clearer copyright procurement process. Copyright Protection Framework in ...
The Trademark Office in Saudi Arabia recently announced that the definition of a trademark has been broadened and now allows the registration of surnames as marks. The TMO will assess several aspects when examining the trademark application, including but not limited to: If the surname complies with the conditions and formal registration requirements related to ...
As part of the country’s efforts in advancing its IP procurement, Saudi Arabia established the Patent Grievances Committee. Pursuant to Article 35 of the Law of Patents, Layout Designs of Integrated Circuits, Plant Varieties, and Industrial Models, the Committee has the jurisdiction to hear infringement cases, invalidation cases, and allows applicants and interested parties to ...
Pursuant to Cabinet Decision no. 51 of 2019, the Patent Office in the United Arab Emirates has started the implementation of the waiver/reduction in the official fees related to the following services: Annuities Publications Patent restoration Assignment, merger, and licensing Correction of application and amendment of claims Change of representative This news comes in light ...
The Trademark Office in Cyprus upgraded its existing online services on July 15, 2019, bringing improved e-filing and online services for trademarks. The upgraded system benefits users by providing modern, state of the art tools and services for intellectual property offices in the European Union Intellectual Property Network. What you need to know about trademark ...
Egypt recently amended Law no. 82 of 2002 on the Protection of Intellectual Property Rights in an effort to join the UPOV Agreement and change its status from an observer to an active member. Accordingly, these amendments to Book Four of the aforementioned Law, which relates to Plant Varieties, are a continuation of the procedural ...
In the scope of the country’s continuous efforts to create competent border enforcement measures, Jordan signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Japan to enhance the Customs security at the Aqaba Special Economic Zone. The MoU provides the authorities concerned with a grant of around US$15.7 million to update all the X-ray machines used by the ...
In an effort to encourage the creation of art and culture, the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property recently issued the Implementing Regulations of the Copyright Law. The Implementing Regulations will enter into force on December 23, 2019 and are expected to pave the way to a clearer copyright procurement process. The Implementing Regulations confirm the ...
A total of 654 applications were published in the last three issues of the Official Gazette of mainland Tanzania (June to August 2019). Publications within the Gazettes are considered sufficient to comply with legal requirements for public notice. Being the largest country in East Africa, mainland Tanzania occupies an unrivaled regional role that is increasing ...
In an effort to promote innovation in the country, the Patent Office in Kuwait announced an update in the fees for all patent related matters. As per Ministerial Decree no. 287 of 2019, the new fees entered into force on July 21, 2019. As a recap on patents in Kuwait, in April 2016, we reported ...
Starting July 1, 2019, professional charges in Bahrain will be subject to five percent Value Added Tax. This comes after the release of the VAT regulations in the country and the publication of the VAT Law in January 2019. Each member state of the GCC is now expected to establish its own separate national legislation ...
The Patent and Trademark Office in Yemen announced an increase in the official publication fees of trademark, patent, and industrial design applications. The new rates will apply to all applications filed on or after August 8, 2019. By way of background, trademark, patent, and industrial design applications are published in the Official Gazette upon acceptance. ...
Following the recently published and implemented increase in industrial design fees in Tunisia, sources at the Patent and Trademark Office (INNORPI) alluded to an upcoming increase in the official fees for all trademark and patent matters. The new fees, which are expected to increase by 100 percent for trademarks and 30 percent for patents, will ...
Pursuant to Cabinet Decision no. 51 of 2019, the United Arab Emirates announced a revision in the official fees for all services offered by the Ministry of Economy, including those related to intellectual property matters. The revised fees for intellectual property matters affect trademark registration and renewal fees, which have been reduced by 27 percent ...
With an area of 23,200 square kilometers, it is easy to overlook Djibouti on a map. Despite its size, this small country occupies an unrivaled regional role in East Africa that is increasing in significance. Due to the country having the largest deepwater port off of the coast of the Red Sea, Djibouti serves as ...
The Maghreb region, known for its touristic and historical sites, along with its considerable proximity to Europe, has been experiencing its own industrial revolution over the span of the past several years. From West to East, the region includes Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya. With a total population in excess of 90 million, the Maghreb ...
In its ongoing efforts to advance the intellectual property scene in the country, India joined three key World Intellectual Property Organization treaties: Nice Agreement, Vienna Agreement and the Locarno Agreement. Although India was already following the Nice Agreement, Vienna Agreement and the Locarno Agreement, the treaties will officially enter into force in India on September ...
The Office of the United States Trade Representative published the Special 301 Report on April 25, 2019, reviewing global developments on trade and intellectual property. The MENA countries on the Priority Watch List are Algeria, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. The Watch List includes Egypt, Lebanon, and the United Arab Emirates. These countries do in fact ...
With interminable shores along the Indian Ocean and a total area of 947,303 square kilometers, Tanzania is the largest country in East Africa occupying an unrivaled regional role that is increasing in significance. Due to its vast natural resources, Tanzania has achieved high growth rates and is experiencing stable economic development. Tanzania encourages foreign investment, ...
Saudi Arabia is located at the convergence of Europe, Asia, and Africa and occupies a regional location of strategic and economic importance for global trade routes and transnational business expansions. And with the status as the world’s largest exporter of petroleum and the country’s relentless commitment to promote a robust economic diversification program, Saudi Arabia ...
Tarek joined Saba IP in 2008 and now serves as the associate country manager at the Kuwait Office. Tarek provides IP, legal, and strategic advice to clients based on best financial and legal practices in Kuwait. Before assuming his role as associate country manager in Kuwait, Tarek was stationed in our Morocco Office and UAE ...
The Patent Office in Jordan recently issued a decision relating to the management of patent annuities. For patent applications entered in Jordan via PCT on or after April 22, 2019, annuities due at the time of national filing will include the back annuities accumulated in the international stage. With this new practice, annuities will become ...
With its significant geopolitical position, Pakistan is nestled in the cradle of the historical Indus Valley civilization, which dates back at least 5,000 years. And Pakistan’s location in South Asia provides the country with convenient access to the international market. In an effort to boost development, Pakistan and China are implementing the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, ...
In an effort to combat counterfeiting and piracy, Kenya recently laid the groundwork for Customs recordal. Once operational, the recordal will allow the local Anti-Counterfeit Agency to have the authority to stop the importation of counterfeit goods at ports of entry. The recordal, which is valid for the period of one year, will allow the ...
In its ongoing efforts to advance the intellectual property protection scene in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property recently ratified two memorandums of understanding, one with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the other with the Korean Intellectual Property Office. The MOUs, which were both signed at the General Assembly of ...
With coasts along the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, Morocco occupies a strategic regional position of great importance. The country has made use of its proximity to Europe and its location in North Africa, along with skilled labor, to work towards building a diverse, open, market-oriented economy. Key sectors of Morocco’s economy include agriculture, ...
As more and more patent offices in the Middle East and North Africa region establish themselves as receiving offices for national applicants, the services they provide improve over time. Not surprisingly, the Egyptian Patent Office, which is the only regional International Search Authority and International Preliminary Examination Authority, is offering the possibility for Egyptian nationals ...
In its ongoing efforts to advance the intellectual property scene in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property recently signed a patent prosecution highway agreement with Korean Intellectual Property Office. The PPH agreement is expected to foster and develop a bilateral partnership in the field of intellectual property and to strengthen the relationship between ...
Saudi Arabia recently announced a revision in the official fees for all trademark matters. The new rates will be published in the Official Gazette and will enter into force on the date of publication. It is worth noting that, with the introduction of e-filing for all trademark recordal matters, we saw a significant increase in ...
In April 2018, the European Commission published a report assessing Turkey's political situation, economic development, regional issues, and international obligations. Chapter 7 of the aforementioned study praises Turkey’s progress regarding the alignment of its laws with the European Union’s IP acquis communautaire. The Commission cites Turkey for having a “good level of preparation” and for maintaining ...
The Patent Office in the United Arab Emirates recently designated the Korean Intellectual Property Office as a competent International Searching and Preliminary Examining Authority. This update concerns international applications filed on or after January 6, 2019, by nationals and residents of the UAE with the International Bureau as Receiving Office. By way of background, in ...
In an effort to protect and promote the use of the Arabic language, Qatar issued Law no. 7 of 2019. The Law, which entered into force on January 14, 2019, stipulates that ministries, government agencies, and public institutions are now required to use Arabic in their meetings and discussions. Furthermore, all state legislations, official documents, ...
The Trademark Office in Oman accepted the first sound trademark application in the country, with the sound represented on the application by a musical notation. In fact, according to Article 1 of Royal Decree no 67/2008, any signs capable of being represented graphically, including sounds, provided that such signs are capable of distinguishing the goods ...
The Gulf Cooperation Council comprises the following six countries: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Historically, these countries and the region at large have been recognized as key suppliers of oil and gas. The economies of the GCC countries were primarily, and in earlier years, based on the export of ...
In an effort to combat the illicit importation goods into the country, Egyptian authorities decreed a set of regulations in March 2016 stipulating that certain imported goods will not legally enter into the market unless the merchandise is authorized by the General Organization for Export and Import Control (GOEIC). As of January 15, 2019, GOEIC ...
The Trademark Office in Kuwait announced that, as of January 20, 2019, the legalized power of attorney must be submitted at the time of filing. Prior to this procedural change, the TMO stipulated that the POA may be submitted within three months from filing date. As for the priority claim, no changes were made to ...
Following the recent publication of the Implementing Regulations of Law no. 1 of 2004 concerning patents and utility models, the Patent Office in Bahrain introduced examination fees and announced an increase in all the official fees relating to patent prosecution. By way of background, the protection term is 20 years from the international filing date, ...
Algeria recently announced a revision in the official fees for all intellectual property matters, including trademarks, patents, and industrial designs. The new rates also apply to examination and the annuity maintenance fees for patents and utility models. The revised official fees entered into force on December 30, 2018. By way of background, Algeria is the ...
On December 13, 2018, following the recent decision to begin substantive examination of pending and new patent applications, the Patent Office in Bahrain issued the Implementing Regulations of Law no. 1 of 2004 concerning patents and utility models. The long-awaited Implementing Regulations are expected to pave the way to a clearer patent procurement process. With ...
Saudi Arabia notified the World Trade Organization of its plans to adopt plain packaging of tobacco products. The proposal, which was filed on September 12, 2018 and reviewed by the authorities concerned at the WTO, was accompanied by a draft regulation titled “Plain Packaging Standards of Tobacco Products.” While Saudi Arabia did not disclose when ...
The Middle East and North Africa is a lucrative, yet extremely competitive market for the tobacco industry, with cases fought over the most minuscule elements of packaging. Global brands should familiarize themselves with the similarities – and differences – between local regimes before diving in. So what trademark issues specific to the MENA region should the tobacco companies be ...
Given Jordan’s unremitting commitment to the protection of intellectual property, the Patent and Trademark Office announced that it plans to begin receiving and processing all applications in electronic format as of January 1, 2019. In this regard, the PTO has been holding a training sessions, and Saba IP was selected to participate and present to ...
Our annual “Year in Review” sums up the most important intellectual property news and developments that unfolded over the past year in the Middle East, Africa, and their neighboring regions. As we have seen in previous years, the trend to ditch paper in favor of electronic filing is still on the rise. Algeria, Azerbaijan, Iran, ...
In September 2018, the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property participated in the 58th meeting of the World Intellectual Property Organization. This is the first time SAIP represents as a high-level delegation in the WIPO general assembly meetings. The authorities concerned announced the upcoming launch of the Academy of the World Intellectual Property Organization in Saudi ...
Trademark renewals may be submitted electronically at the Trademark Office in the Kuwait as of late September 2018. The new process involves uploading the supporting documents to the TMO’s new online system. It is worth noting that the online publication in official gazette will occur on later stage filing the renewal and paying the official ...
Following the recent introduction of value added tax in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, VAT is expected to be introduced in Bahrain as of January 1, 2019. The VAT will apply to goods and services at the standard rate of five percent, with some limited exceptions on basic food items, healthcare, and education. ...
With coasts along the Mediterranean basin and a close proximity to Europe, Tunisia occupies a regional position of great importance in North Africa. Tunisia is an export-oriented country that is actively liberalizing and privatizing its economy. The country has a diverse economy, ranging from agriculture, mining, manufacturing, and petroleum products, to tourism. Key exports include ...
The Patent Office in Oman announced that official equivalent patent searches are now possible. Accordingly, it is possible to search the patent database for patent applications filed or entered in Oman using the typical bibliographic data of the priority applications or PCT publications. In case the searches relate to pharmaceuticals patents, the following criteria may ...
Now that the Patent Office in Qatar has been actively examining patent applications and has even issued decisions on several applications, there is a need for applicants and interested parties to have a clear mechanism for appealing or opposing such decisions. As part of the country's efforts in advancing its IP procurement, Qatar issued Ministerial ...
Recently, and after much deliberation, the Patent Office in Qatar issued the Implementing Regulations of the Patent Law. The Implementing Regulations entered into force on July 5, 2018. The long-awaited Implementing Regulations are expected to pave the way to a clearer patent procurement process. The Implementing Regulations confirm the present procedures in Qatar. As such, ...
Sami Nusair joined Saba IP in 2006 and currently manages the Oman Office. Sami provides IP legal and strategic advice to clients based on best financial, taxation, and legal practices in Oman and the MENA region. Before joining Saba IP, Sami worked in industrial and commercial institutions in Jordan and Qatar. Sami holds a degree ...
There have been controversial reports claiming that the Trademark Office in Kuwait issued a memo relating to a deadline for dealing with pending trademark applications filed prior to 2018. In fact, the TMO is presently examining all pending applications filed prior to 2018, and for that it called on all applicants and their representatives to ...
In an effort to promote the registration of the internationalized country code top-level domain (“.alurdun”), the Jordan National Information Technology Center announced a reduction in the registration fees. Furthermore, the protection period became one year instead of two. The table below offers more information on Arabic domain names in the Middle East and North Africa. ...
In their continuous efforts to eliminate imitation and fake goods, the Ministry of Commerce and Investment recently seized more than 17,000 counterfeit products bearing well-known brand names. The authorities concerned at the MCI will be taking the necessary legal procedures and referring the cases to the public prosecution, as this activity is considered a violation ...
Federal Law no. 6 of 2018, better known as the Federal Arbitration Law, entered into force in the United Arab Emirates on June 14, 2018. Before that, arbitration, which was commonplace in the UAE despite not having a dedicated law, was governed by Articles 203 to 218 of the Civil Procedures Code of 1992. The ...
The Trademark Office in Yemen reiterated that claiming class headings is not possible, as it recently stated in Ministerial Resolution no. 72 of 2018. Applicants are unable to file an application claiming the whole class without specifying the particular goods or services. In other words, the actual language of the goods or services specified in ...
The Trademark Office in Lebanon introduced revised procedures related to the recordal of assignments and mergers. Effective June 29, 2018, applicants must submit the original certificate of registration along with the application for the recordal of an assignment and/or merger as an additional documentary requirement. The TMO will then issue a new certificate afterwards, instead ...
Trademark renewals may be submitted electronically at the Trademark Office in the United Arab Emirates as of June 26, 2018. The new process involves uploading the supporting documents to the online system, along with a renewal announcement in two local newspapers. The certificate will then be issued instantaneously, which significantly speeds up the renewal process. ...
Recently, and after much deliberation, the Iranian Intellectual Property Office issued a decision relating to the calculation of annuities and patent term expiration. According to the new decision, the following will apply: For new patent applications entered in Iran via PCT on or after May 30, 2018, the annuities due at the time of filing ...
In light of the recent decision to withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, informally known as the Iran Deal, the United States is expected to begin reimposing certain sanctions on Iran. These sanctions, however, include a waiver that allows the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights in Iran. The provision, which may ...
The Office of the United States Trade Representative published the Special 301 Report on April 27, 2018, reviewing global developments on trade and intellectual property. The MENA countries on the watch list are Algeria, Egypt, Kuwait, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. These countries do in fact maintain strong IP laws and are ...
The Trademark Office in Yemen announced new regulations related to trademark registration procedures. The regulations, which were promulgated through Ministerial Decision no. 20 of 2018, entered into force on March 18, 2018 and stipulate the following: The registration procedures of all pending applications must be completed within 12 months as from filing date; otherwise the ...
With the advent of the INTA Annual Meeting this month, we address recent trademark updates including official fees, procedural changes, e-filing, packaging requirements. Increase in Official Fees and Introduction of VAT Be it directly or indirectly related to the implementation of the Gulf Cooperation Council Trademark Law, we have witnessed throughout 2017 a considerable increase ...
Protection and enforcement of Intellectual property rights are becoming essential aspects in driving growth, innovation and investment in the Middle East and North Africa. IP enforcement procedures and the possible measures vary significantly from one country to the other and trademark owners are able to benefit from a wide range of enforcement options. Generally speaking, ...
In the scope of their continuous efforts to create competent border enforcement measures and to provide effective protection, the Saudi Customs Authority and our local affiliate in Saudi Arabia signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding with the in order to benefit from the trademark recordation system for registered trademarks. It is worth noting that Upon ...
The African Intellectual Property Organization, better known by its French acronym OAPI, recently adopted the 11th Edition of the Nice Classification, thus replacing the outgoing 10th Edition. The adoption of the 11th Edition will not affect trademarks already filed and registered. Upon next renewal, goods and services affected by this change in formalities should be ...
Iran recently ratified its instrument of accession to the Locarno Agreement, which establishes a classification for industrial designs. The Agreement is expected to enter into force on July 12, 2018. By way of background, the Locarno Agreement stipulates procedures for establishing, amending and additionally creating international classification for industrial designs. The Locarno Classification consists of ...
Following the news announcing the implementation of electronic filing of patent applications, the Patent Office in Bahrain is starting substantive examination of pending applications. Whereas there has been no official notice in this regard, we will be notifying our clients should the examination reports become available. Any change in the examination procedures and related official ...
The Trademark Office in Morocco, which is known by its French acronym OMPIC, announced that trademark certificates will be issued electronically as of May 28, 2018. We are pleased to announce that our colleagues in Morocco utilized the system as soon as it became available, thus ensuring we were among the first to receive an ...
Patent laws in practically all jurisdictions in the Middle East and North Africa clearly define what is considered to be an infringement act and from what date such acts may be considered infringing. As is the case in most countries outside the MENA region, there are many infringement exemptions that can be summarized in a ...