Remarks:

On September 24, 2000, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of Oman issued Ministerial Decree no. 82/2000 promulgating a Patent Law for the first time in the country. Since October 1998, protection was obtained through the Gulf Cooperation Council patent registration system. For a long time before that and in the absence of a pertinent local legislation, some sort of protection was obtained through the publication of cautionary notices in local dailies.

Five years after the promulgation of the Patent Law, the Ministry established the official fees scale thus paving the way for patent registration and maintenance for the first time. The fees, which were published in Official Gazette no. 805 dated December 17, 2005, completed Ministerial Decree no. 37/2005 issued earlier on September 10, 2005 regarding the implementing regulations of the Patent Law. Subsequently, the Omani Patent and Trademark Office announced that it would start accepting patent applications at the beginning of the year 2006.

Filing Requirements:

1. Power of attorney, legalized.

2. Copy of certificate of incorporation or extract from the commercial register, certified.

3. Copy of priority document if priority is claimed, certified.

4. Deed of assignment from the inventor(s), legalized.

5. Abstract of the invention in English and Arabic.

6. Technical specifications of the invention in English and Arabic.

* Items 1 may be submitted within 60 days from filing date.

* Items 2, 3, 4 and Arabic translation of technical specifications of the invention may be submitted within 90 days from filing date.

* Item 5 and 6 must be submitted at the time of filing.

Opposition:

Patent applications are published in the Official Gazette. Oppositions may be filed within 60 days from publication date.

Search:

Not possible.

Examination:

As to form and novelty.

Annuities:

A maintenance fee is due annually on the anniversary of the filing date and is payable before the granting of the patent. There is a 6-month grace period for late payment with a surcharge.

Protection Term:

The term of protection is 20 years from date of grant.

Compulsory License:

A patent has to be worked. If the patent is not being fully exploited by the patentee within 3 years from the date of grant then the patent will be subject to compulsory licensing under the provisions of the law.

Novelty Requirements:

Absolute novelty is required.