For more information, please contact iraq@qumsieh.com.

We pray for those grieving the sudden loss of loved ones and those whose homes have been destroyed. We are longing for a miraculous de-escalation of this war, asking for reason to overcome rage.

You can contact us at gaza@qumsieh.com.

The Decree was published in the Official Gazette number 31(B) on 6 August 2022, where EAIP should be structured and start its operations within a year from the publication date, i.e., 6 August 2023.

EAIP will replace the General Administration of Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Models of the Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade in relation to all IP matters and will fulfil its duties. It will handle all IP-related transactions and become the point of contact for applicants and agents regarding new filings, renewals, recordals, and so on.

For more information, please contact egypt@qumsieh.com.

The IPO will prioritise the processing of already filed applications, renewals, and recordals with due dates.

Trademark applications, however, may be filed through the Ministry’s online filing portal every Wednesday.

For urgent trademark applications, applicants may file a petition before the head of the IPO requesting an expedited process. Said petition must explain the reasons for the request.

For more information, please contact lebanon@qumsieh.com.

In addition, on 12 October 2020, the Directorate announced the possibility of submitting trademark renewal applications, requests for recordals, search requests, and International Registrations (IR) related transactions through the same portal, unifying all processes, making the following new trademark services available electronically via their online filing system:

• Trademark renewals;
• Recordal of change of name/address of an owner;
• Recordal of assignments;
• Changing the legal representative’s name/address;
• Appointing a new agent;
• Recordal of license agreements;
• Request to cancel a license agreement;
• Recordal of mortgages;
• Request to cancel a mortgage;
• Cancelling of a registered trademark by the owner;
• Request to amend the list of goods and services partially;
• Request to withdraw a trademark before registration;
• Other amendment requests;
• Preliminary examination requests of a trademark;
• Requests for certified copies of documents (registration certificates, applications as filed, renewal certificates);
• Inquiries by applicant name or trademark number;
• Payment of an IR official fee;
• Transitioning of an IR application to a national application (for trademarks and collective trademarks), and
• Request of a transformation of a national trademark application to an IR application.

The online system serves to enhance the filing experience for users, applicants, and agents and is meant to reduce the timeframe required to complete the procedures at the Directorate.

For more information, please contact bahrain@qumsieh.com.

The officials were able to restore all data and records from the backup servers, the premises has also been refurbished, and the Office will work at full capacity.

For more information, please contact lebanon@qumsieh.com.

It is now possible to submit a simply signed PoA and other documents (if required) without legalisation at the time of filing so that the Trademark Office (TMO) can process the application or request. The TMO can also issue a certificate or decision, but will not send the original certificate until the legalisation requirement has been fulfilled.

The above affects new filings, oppositions, renewals, and recordals.

This regulation was conveyed verbally with no written circulation, and it will remain effective throughout the entire lockdown period in the country.

For more information, please contact yemen@qumsieh.com.

Since 2011, due to the civil unrest in the country, most of those files were lost or damaged, making it impossible to issue a final decision regarding those applications.

In other words, if you had a trademark application filed in 2015 or before, and that application received an opposition where a decision has not been made yet, your application is no longer valid and has been removed from the list of registered trademarks.

As such, we recommend to our clients, whose applications match the above criteria, to refile their trademarks in order to secure their rights.

If you have any questions, please contact yemen@qumsieh.com.

The Office also introduced the following changes:

• The office will only accept single-class applications, so filing a multi-class application is no longer possible.
• A 100% increase in the official filing fees, now a total of USD$1000 per application.

Should you need further clarifications, please contact somalia@qumsieh.com.

The soft opening will run for six (6) months from the date of the opening, during this period, the IPO will accept applications only from the owners who have registered trademarks in Myanmar, giving recognition to the existing registrations by allowing these registrations to be re-filed on a first-to-file principle. Therefore, during this period, no new applications will be received.

The re-filing requirements are as follows:

• Powers of attorney must be legalised; a late filing is allowed for 3 months from the filing date without penalty.
• A photocopy of the previously registered/renewed declaration of ownership of the trademark.
• Evidence of use of the mark in Myanmar (the evidence can be a copy of the cautionary notice that has been published in a local magazine in Myanmar, contracts, tax invoices, bills, receipts, advertising materials, etc.).

The filing requirements for filing a trademark application under the new law are as follows:

• Powers of attorney must be legalised; a late filing is allowed for 3 months from the filing date without penalty.
• A notarized declaration of ownership, a late filing is allowed for 3 months from the filing date without penalty.

The official fees for the re-filing to be announced by the IPO at a later date.

For more information, please contact info@qumsieh.com.