New Requirements for Recordals in Lebanon
29 September 2016
according to a new regulation issued by the Trademark Office in Lebanon, powers of attorney (POA) in relation to new applications, renewals, and recordals must be legalized by the Lebanese Consulate, and late filings of the documents is no longer accepted.
Said decision has become into effect on September 1st, 2016. Accordingly, we ask our clients to send us legalized POAs as well as other original documents related to any recordals transactions along with their instructions.
However, priority documents do not require legalization and can be submitted within 2 months as of the filing date. (a scanned copy by email is required upon filing).
Patent Substantive Examination Fees for Oman
26 September 2016
Sultanate of Oman declared officially as per enclosed circulation dated 21/09/2016 that the substantive examination fees for patent applications accepted formally in the year 2013-2014 are due for payment. This comes as a result to the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Omani and the Egyptian Patent Offices, where the Egyptian Patent Office acts as the examining office for all pending and new patent applications filed in Oman. For the Omani Patent Office to examine all patents which are accepted formally within the above term (with completed formalities), a request by the applicant or his agent should be submitted for substantive examination with the payment of the examination fees.
Failure to submit the request for substantive examination for patents within two months from the date of this notification i.e. before 21/11/2016 the patent application will be considered cancelled in accordance with article 9 ( 5) a and b of the Industrial Property Law no. 67/2008.
Possible Changes Trademark Procedures & Fees Hike in Saudi Arabia
7 September 2016
There would be possible major changes in Trademark procedures and fees in Saudi Arabia. This implementation of GCC-Trademark Law should be effective from 26 September, 2016.
Following are the verbal informations provided by the Saudi Trademark Office:
- Possible increase in Official Trademark Registration Fees for more than 20% than the current fees.
- The opposition period will be shortened to 60 days from the current 90 days for all new applications filed on or after the implementation of Law.
- The oppositions are to be filed with the Higher Committee of the Trademark Office, swapping the current practice of filing opposition with the court.
- There would be official fees for Appeals to Minister & Oppositions.
In this respect, we would like to advise all our clients to file their Trademarks prior to the implementation of GCC Trademark Law in order to avail the old official registration fees.
Issuance of Trademarks Registration Certificates In Libya
17 August 2016
The Libyan Trademarks Office has issued registration certificates for the trademarks numbered 5000 to 6000 which are now available and ready for release by the registrar of trademarks upon payment of the official registration fees. In case you would like to avail our service in issuing the registration certificates for the aforementioned application series.
Suspension of Payment of Publication Fees in Kuwait
15 August 2016
The payment of the publication fees for renewals, recordals of assignment, change of name and address actions of registered trademarks has been suspended by the Kuwaiti Trademarks Office until further notice. As per the requisite of the Kuwaiti Trademarks implementing regulations adopted on 27 December 2015, the aforementioned actions should be published in the official gazette in order to put said actions in actual effect with the trademarks registrar and endorsement of these actions on the respective registration certificates.
However, the Kuwaiti Trademarks Registrar is currently effecting these procedures without payment of publication fees as they are not published in the official gazette. Likewise, the change of local agent of service recordation has also been suspended until further notice.
Syria Increase in the Official Fees for Patents 2016 - Decision No. 1540
14 August 2016
The Syrian Ministry of Interior Trade and Consumer Protection has issued a new decision to increase the Official Fees for the substantive examination fee for Patents in Syria.
For your easy reference please click here to download a scanned copy of the decision No. 1540.
The decision is effective as from 01/07/2016; hence, the new fees will be applied for all new applications as well as all pending applications filed before that date and are due for payments for the substantive examination fees.
