Watermark

Trade mark snippets from around the world
20 June 2008

Bahrain
The Directorate of Industrial Property in Bahrain has advised in a recent press release that the grace period for responding to the Industrial Property Office notifications is 90 days from the date of receiving the official notification.  This applies to opposition and refusal matters.

An extra day will be allowed if the final day of the grace period falls on a weekend or an official holiday.  If a request for an extension of time is made, a maximum extension period of 30 days after the expiry of the initial 90 days will be available.

Iran
Iran’s new Intellectual Property Law, which was passed by Parliament earlier this year, is now in force. The new law provides protection to industrial designs, patents, trade marks and trade names.

A significant development under the new law is the protection of published applications. The law prescribes that once an application is published, the applicant has the same rights as it would have if the mark were registered.


Libya
Libya’s Trademark Office has initiated a new procedure for document authentication, taking effect from 1 June 2008.  Previously, applicants were only required to legalize documents such as Powers of Attorney at the Libyan Consulate in the applicant’s home country.  Under the new procedure, such documents should also now undergo the additional step of being authenticated by the Libyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.


United Arab Emirates
According to a publication issued earlier this month by the Trade Marks Office in the United Arab Emirates, when trade mark applications are filed without a Power of Attorney, the applicant’s representatives have 60 days from the date of filing to submit the required Power.  The exanimation procedures for such applications will be ceased if the required Power of Attorney is not submitted in the 60 day period.  However, an extension period of 30 days may be granted if an official letter of request is submitted.

Hanna Southern