The Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) announced on August 12, 2021 new amounts, in Swiss francs, of the individual fee that is payable when the Syrian Arab Republic is designated in an international application, in a designation subsequent to an ...
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The Eleventh Edition of the International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks under the Nice Agreement (Nice Classification) has been officially adopted in Saudi Arabia as a replacement to the 10th Edition which did not include the most ...
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The Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property “SAIP” announced on August 15, 2021 that the enforcement jurisdiction of trademarks is transferred from the Ministry of Commerce to the SAIP in line with the Council of Ministers' decision No. (496) dated 9/14/1439 AH corr ...
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The UAE has issued Federal Law no. 11 of 2021 ("the Law") concerning the regulation and protection of Industrial Property Rights. The Law revoked the (“former Law”) No. 17 of 2002 on Regulation and Protection of Industrial Property of Patents, Industrial Drawing ...
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The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) is an independent regulator of foods, drugs and medical devices in the Kingdom. A major function of the SFDA is to issue national standards and set mandatory standard specifications for these product categories, whether imported or manufacture ...
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The Cabinet has decided that official publication fees for all post registration actions, including the change of agent name and address for service should be collected at the time of submitting the applications for such actions, with effect from July 5, 2021.

In the past, ...
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Majlis Ash’shura (which is the lower house of the Council of Oman) referred the draft unified GCC Anti-Commercial Fraud Law to the State Council without changes, during its 12th ordinary session of the second annual sitting (2019-2020) of the ninth term (2019-2023). It was high ...
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In the latest development with the customs department in Egypt, the Egyptian customs have introduced "Advanced Cargo Information (ACI)”, a new electronic system for the pre-registration of shipment information.

This system requires cargo data and related documen ...
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In a bid to strengthen the historical relations between the two countries, the IPOs of Saudi Arabia and South Korea have executed a new agreement, for joint examination of patent applications, starting from July 1, 2021.

The agreement enables concurrent examinations of pat ...
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Dubai International Finance Centre, DIFC, is the leading international financial hub in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region, with more than 25,600 professionals working across over 2,500 active registered companies. DIFC has issued Intellectual Property Regulations ...
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A geographical indication (GI) is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin. In order to function as a GI, a sign must identify a product as originating in a given place. In addition, the qualiti ...
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Dubai Custom’s Intelligence Department thwarted an attempt to smuggle counterfeit petroleum jelly under the trademark "VASELINE" shipment that contained 17,280 packs, with a street value of AED400, 000, with the coordination of relevant departmentsRead More

The Trademarks and Copyright Works Department of the Ministry of Economy circulated that the Official Trademark Gazette will be published bimonthly. This came into force as of 15 June 2021. It will expedite trademark registration process.

First fortnightly Trademark Gazett ...
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Kuwait Patent Office (KPO) announced that an electronic platform for the filing of patent applications has been introduced on May 19, 2021.

All new patent registrations are now handled online allowing electronic filing of new patent applications in Kuwait. The online syste ...
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Saudi Intellectual Property Authority “SAIP” has updated its patent search engines which provide an IP Search Platform for enabling users to search “Published Patents, Industrial Designs, and Integrated Circuits Applications”, as well as a Platform for “ ...
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Recently, the Ministry of Economy has issued a notification regarding the submission of Power of Attorney (“PoA”) at the time of filing of a new trademark application in UAE.

According to the notification, it will be compulsory to file the trademark application ...
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It was Announced/notified by the Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) with respect to the deposit by the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on April 22, 2021, of its instrument of accession to the Nice Agreement Concerning the International ...
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Plant variety protection “i.e. plant breeder's right,” is a form of intellectual property right granted to the breeder of a new plant variety to have the exclusive rights to exploit the protected variety; prohibit third parties from exploiting ...
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Qatar’s Cabinet has approved a draft law with respect to the protection of trademarks, copyright and neighboring rights of the International Football Association (FIFA.)

The draft Law is referred to the Shoura Council for their consideration.

Among other t ...
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The Ajman Police General Headquarters - Ministry of Interior announced on June 1, 2021 that 120,000 counterfeit items were confiscated for luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton, GUCCI, BOSS, HERMES, CHANEL, DIOR, CARTIER, PRADA, ADIDAS, ROLEX, VAN CLEEF, VERSACE, among several others. ...
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To curb trademark infringement, the spokesperson of the Saudi’s Ministry of Commerce announced on April 22, 2021 that strict actions will be taken against offenders involved in trademark counter ...
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Oman: Online Filings for Trademark with an increased fee

The Intellectual Property Directorate at the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion announced, via circular letter number 1447/2021, that it has started receiving ...
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Saudi Arabia: Recent changes related to Saudi country code (ccTLD) domain names (.sa) and (.السعودية) “.ALSUADIAH” in Arabic

The registrations of the domain name (.sa) s ...
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United Arab Emirates: Late Filing of the Legalized Power of Attorney for Trademark Applications and Priority Document

Through an official notification released on April 11, 2021 by the "UAE Trademarks and Copyr ...
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Kuwait: Substantive Examination of Patents

The Supreme Council of the GCC held its annual meeting on 5 January 2021 and issued its decision that the GCC Patent Office will no longer accept any new patent applications as of 6 January 2021. Thus discontinui ...
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Pakistan has officially joined the Madrid System which enables trademark owners to file a single application and pay one set of fees to apply for protection in up to 124 countries. Through the same system, applicants modify, renew or expand a global trademark portfolio through one ce ...
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In UAE, issuance of a new intellectual property law is expected considering that UAE National Federal council announced the discussion as to this point during the session dated January 19, 2021.

Accordingly, the expected intellectual property law will comprise of eight cha ...
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Government of the Sultanate of Oman has ratified the Geneva Act of Lisbon Agreement, on Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications signed in Geneva on May 20, 2015, through the Royal Decree no. 18/2021 

Accordingly, concerned Authorities have been instructed ...
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In Egypt, a directive has been issued by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in order to merge the authorities within the body of the Ministries of Higher Education, Scientific Research, Agriculture, Industry and Supply under one entity which will become the Intellectual Property Authorit ...
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The Congress has passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act on December 21, 2020.

Accordingly, the Act brings some alterations regarding trademark procedures which will be fundamental for trademark litigation and prosecution. Accordingly, seeking injunction has been eased ...
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Due to the difficulties experienced during COVID 19, Brazilian Patent Office has started to accept executed agreements on condition that some requirements are met.

Accordingly, the first requirement is to execute the agreement electronically which will be handled by two pa ...
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Following the recent GCC Supreme Council meeting, the GCC Patent office will no longer be accepting new patent filings as of January 6th 2021. At the 41st Supreme Council meeting, held on the 5th of January 2021, a decision was made to amend the existing GCC Patent Law, which has bee ...
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In Turkey, a new social media law has entered into force on October 1, 2020.

As per the law, social media platforms which are accessed over 1 million times per day are required to appoint their local representatives in Turkey in due time.

Upon the expiration of ...
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South Korea will enforce punitive damages in case of breach of trademark and design rights in order to further ensure the protection of knowledge- based intangible assets.

The revision has been approved by the National Assembly, says the Korean Intellectu ...
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The United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) is in preparation of increasing the official fees concerning trademarks through its “Final Rule” which will be effective as of January 2, 2021.

Below you may find some of the ...
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United Arab Emirates has recently annulled the rule which required 51% ownership of a UAE national for onshore companies. This means that a foreign person or company may own 100% share in a local UAE company.

The aim of this reform is to boost the country ...
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Saudi Arabia Intellectual Property Office has recently launched a service for registration of collective marks which is in parallel with the international practice.

As it is known, a collective trademark is a trademark owned by an organization (e.g., asso ...
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The House of Representatives of Cyprus has introduced amendments in the Trademark Law in order to align with the European Trademarks Directive (Directive (EU) 2015/2436).

The mentioned regulation has brought substantial amendments and changed the system of registration, ma ...
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On 28 July, 2020, a new amendment to the Internet Law, which is Law no. 5651 on the Regulation of Broadcasts via the Internet and the Prevention of Crimes Committed Through such Broadcasts, has been introduced. Through this amendment, the term “Social Network ...
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The Saudi Intellectual Property Authority has issued the first certificate for a sound trademark in the Kingdom.

The certificate has been issued for the Saudi Telecom Company.

It seems that the sounds which are innovative as well as distinctive ...
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Governments and businesses across the Middle East are recognising the importance of riding the new wave of disruptive innovations that corresponds with the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The UAE, in particular, is committed to being at the forefront of this new arena. Indeed, ...
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The Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP) has blocked 231 websites as they have found that those are violating the intellectual property laws in Saudi Arabia.

SAIP has established an organization to monitor and detect possible violations. Those blocked websites ...
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Saudi Arabia declared that the VAT rate will be increased from 5% to 15%, which will be effective as of July 1, 2020.

Due to the pandemic which has affected the global economy, several measures have been taken and the tripling of the VAT rate has been cited as one of these ...
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In yet another update, we are pleased to share the information that the Egypt Patent office will now accept patent applications without any late fees for applications which has the deadline from March 25, 2020 until June 25, 2020. The patent a ...
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Amid COVID-19’s pandemic outbreak, Applicants’ usual business from different parts of the world has stalled globally. The Applicants are therefore unable to meet the statutory requirements for filing patent application in different jurisdictions.

Given the curr ...
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The State of Qatar adopted Law No. 10 of 2020 for the Protection of Industrial Designs on April 19, 2020. This new law annulled the industrial design law dated 2002.

Adopting the new industrial design law has been a continuous&n ...
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As Saudi Arabia continues to move forward with Vision 2030, the government has made a further step in unifying the body responsible for Intellectual Property matters. The Ministry of Trade and Investment will no longer be responsible for trademarks as the mandate is now being passed ...
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The UAE government has made the decision to reduce fees with regards to services that are offered by the Ministry of the Economy, including Trademark related services. Under Cabinet Ministerial Decision 20/2020, a range of current fees will be disc ...
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In response to the Corona pandemic, we want to provide you with an update on our ongoing efforts to continue assisting clients while also protecting the health and safety of our team.

As you know, UTPS operates in several countries. In some countries, the ...
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INDIA: GOVERNMENT INTRODUCES MAJOR AMENDMENTS IN MANUAL OF PATENT OFFICE PRACTISE AND PROCEDURE

The Government of India introduced a New Manual of Patent Office Practice and Procedures. This New Manual seeks ...
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UK: BREXIT

On the 31^st of January, 2020 the United Kingdom officially left the European Union. Starting from, February 1^st, 2020, the negotiation dealings with the EU began.The c ...
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