ABU DHABI – The United Arab Emirates has issued a new Federal Law on Industrial Property, Law No. (11) of 2021, and published the same in the Federal Gazette number 706 on 31 May 2021.
The new law affects patents, industrial designs, utility models, and trade secrets. The major changes to the current law are as follows:
- Introducing a 12-month grace period to file a patent application after its disclosure;
- The possibility to request an accelerated examination;
- Increased protection period of the industrial design for up to 20 years, and
- Allowing the patentability of purpose-limited product claims.
The Council of Ministers is expected to draft the implementing regulations of this law before the end of 2021. Until then, the implementation of the provisions of current Federal Law shall continue.
For more information, please contact uae@qumsieh.com.