Algeria becomes 95th signatory to Madrid Protocol

Sunday, 16 August 2015

Algeria has become the 95th country to join the Madrid Protocol, 43 years after acceding to the Madrid Agreement.

The country deposited its instrument of accession on July 31 alongside Francis Gurry, director general of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

The protocol will take effect in Algeria on October 31.

It means trademark applicants will be able to file a single application at the Algerian National Institute of Industrial Property for protection inside one or more of the 95 participating countries.

In a statement on its website, published on August 7, WIPO said Algeria’s accession “represents a milestone for the Madrid System and its users”.

“From now on, all international registrations of marks will be exclusively governed by the Madrid Protocol. As a result, the filing and management of international registrations will be simplified."

“Brand owners in Algeria will also benefit from this accession, gaining full access to the territories covered by the Madrid Protocol for international trademark protection,” WIPO added.

Until last week’s announcement Algeria had been the only country within the Madrid System that was just signed up to the Madrid Agreement but not the protocol. Algeria joined the Madrid Agreement in 1972.

The Madrid Protocol was adopted by WIPO in 1989.

Algeria follows the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI), Cambodia and Zimbabwe in joining the Madrid Protocol. The Madrid Protocol went into force in all three jurisdictions earlier this year.

OAPI’s accession, however, has proven controversial. In May, the organization stood by its decision to suspend lawyers who opposed the way that the organization joined the protocol.

The lawyers had claimed OAPI lacked a mandate for joining, but OAPI dismissed these claims, stating that it has the authority. OAPI said joining the Madrid Protocol will mean the 17 nations it represents can “keep pace with the international system of industrial property protection”.

Qatar issues new deadline for Patents Applications

Wednesday, 8 July 2015

Pursuant to the meeting of local IP agents with Qatari Patent Office on 28th June 2015, the Qatari Patent Office agreed to extend the deadline for the submission of the required documents and payment of the official fees of filing, annuity fees and substantive examination fees for all patents filed with the Ministry up to December 31, 2014 for extra two months from the original deadline of 31 July 2015.

Therefore, the non-extendable deadline for fulfilling the aforesaid requirements will be due on 30 Sep 2015; otherwise, the application will be deemed abandoned.

New Directives Issued by Iraqi Trademarks Registrar on Submission of the Legalized Power of Attorney

Sunday, 7 June 2015

The Iraqi Trademarks Registrar has today (7 June 2015) released a new directives stipulating the submission of a power of attorney legalized up to the Iraqi consulate abroad for all trademark applications whose filing date exceeded six months; otherwise the Trademark Registrar will strictly apply article no. 16 of the Iraqi Trademarks and Geographical Indication no. 21 of 1957 which states that : “Where registration of a trademark is not completed within six months from the date of the application by reason of default on the part of the applicant the Registrar may inform the applicant, in writing, to complete the registration within the period prescribed in the regulation made under this law. Otherwise, the registrar shall be considered as having abandoned the application.”

New Directives of Trademarks Registration in Kurdistan - Iraq

Saturday, 6 June 2015

With immediate effect, the Trademarks registrar has issued new directives ceasing the legal extension of registered trademarks in Iraq to Kurdistan.

In the past and prior to this decision there were two options of obtaining legal protection through registration of trademarks in Kurdistan the first of which is summarized as follows:

• If the trademark is already registered or accepted for registration in Iraq and the owner of the mark wish to extend its protection to Kurdistan an official letter should be issued by the Iraqi Trademarks Registrar in Baghdad and addressed to the Registrar of Trademarks in Kurdistan furnishing them with the complete details of the concerned trademark filed in Iraq with a report on its latest status whether accepted or registered in order to protect the mark and accredit its registration under Kurdistan jurisdiction; however, such practice is now ceased and in lieu of the same registration should be sought directly with the Kurdistan trademarks office through filing new trademark applications.

UAE Doubles Official Fees becomes into force as of May 29, 2015 for New & Pending Applications

Monday, 25 May 2015

the announcement below issued by the Cabinet Ministers of UAE earlier with regards to doubling the official fees of services provided by the Ministry of Economy including trademarks, patents, copyrights and designs will be doubly increased by virtue of their Decision No. 9 of 2015 is due to be effective as from May 29, 2015.

Accordingly, the Trademarks Registrar will apply the decision of the increase of the new fees for all trademark matters filed subsequent to 29 May 2015 as well as retroactively for the payment of the Publication & Registration Fees of all pending trademarks that will be due for payment after 29 May 2015.

Amended - UAE to Double Official Fees for IPRs Registration

Thursday, 30 April 2015

The Cabinet Ministers of UAE announced that the official fees for a wide range of services provided by the Ministry of Economy including trademarks, patents, copyrights and designs will be increased by virtue of their Decision No. 9 of 2015 which sets out rate increase for the services provided by the Ministry of Economy.

The said decision is due to be effective as from May 29, 2015.

Accordingly, Maddock& Bright IP Law Office will amend its schedule of charges and circulate to its Clients & Associates, Therefore, if we receive your instructions along with the legalized power of attorney which should be lodged at the time of filing after local attestation by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and file the required trademark applications prior to the implementation of the new decision.

However, it should be noted that the increase will be applied for new trademark applications to be filed as of 29 May 2015 whilst the decree was silent on existing and pending applications, however, we are following up the matter with the authorities to make sure that such decision should not affect the previous filed/pending applications.

The following table sets out a selection of the increases announced by the UAE Trade Mark Office: