Under the new rules, POAs are limited to a maximum validity period of five years, unless a shorter term is specified or another reason terminates the POA earlier. All notarised POAs must now explicitly state their expiration date, although expiry of notarisation does not impact the legal relationship between the parties.

Additionally, POAs issued prior to the effective date of this decree will remain valid for two years from the effective date.

The updated regulation excludes commercial agency contracts, as well as other cases that may be exempted by decision of the Minister of Justice.

For further clarification on how this may affect your IP-related POAs or filings in Kuwait, please contact kuwait@qumsieh.com.

As of October 2025, industrial design applications may now be submitted in person at the Department in the Ministry’s main building. Applicants are required to pay the applicable official fees at the reception desks after filing their application.

The Ministry has clarified that all application forms, required documents, and the adopted classification system are now available on the official website of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

The required documents are:

• Power of attorney, legalised.
• Copy of the inventor’s ID Card, passport, or commercial register.
• Copy of the applicant’s ID Card, passport, or commercial register.
• Copy of the design figures (digital images) if the design is 2-dimensional. If the design is 3D, the copies must cover all views (no more than 25 images).
• Certified copy of the priority document (if claimed).

This development signals the activation of industrial design protection in Qatar, where previously the only option to protect a design was to publish a cautionary notice containing design details in a daily newspaper.

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

These updates come through Cabinet Resolution No. (102) of 2025, issued on 8 October 2025, which will enter into force on 15 November 2025, and a corresponding update to individual fees under the Madrid Protocol, effective 2 November 2025.

Revised Madrid Protocol Fees:
As announced by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the individual fee for designating the UAE under the Madrid Protocol has been reduced from CHF 1,630 to CHF 1,420 per class, applicable to international applications, subsequent designations, and renewals filed on or after 2 November 2025.

New Services Introduced by the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism:
The updated domestic framework includes:

• One-day trademark examination (express examination) with an additional fee.
• Temporary trademark protection for events, exhibitions, and workshops.
• Conversion of national applications to international applications under the Madrid Protocol
• New appeal fees based on the nature of the dispute (e.g. appeal against rejection or opposition decisions).
• 50% fee reduction for SMEs registered under the UAE National SME Programme.
• Full fee exemption for People of Determination, promoting equal access to trademark services.

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

The TMO has reverted to its earlier practice of not requiring the submission of the original trademark registration certificate when recording a transfer of ownership. Previously, the original certificate had to be filed for endorsement purposes, adding an additional step for applicants.

Under the updated procedure, the documentation needed for an assignment is now limited to the following:

• a Power of Attorney;
• a Deed of Assignment; and
• a scanned copy of the registration certificate.

Our firm will continue to follow legislative and procedural updates in Lebanon and across the region, ensuring our clients are informed of all developments relevant to the protection and management of their intellectual property rights.

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

The decision to join the Paris Convention signifies Ethiopia’s commitment to enhancing its legal framework in support of innovation and economic growth. By harmonising its IP protection standards with those recognised globally, Ethiopia aims to create a more predictable and transparent environment for both local innovators and international investors.

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

During the initial implementation stage, the Office will adopt a dual approach. For certain trademark applications, certificates will be issued solely in electronic form. At the same time, some registrations will continue to be issued in paper form while the digital system is gradually phased in.

These provisions came into effect in early July 2025.

For any information, please contact qatar@qumsieh.com.

Previously, trademark filings submitted by individuals or entities of Turkish origin were rejected outright by the TMO due to the boycott of Turkey, reflecting broader political sensitivities. This restriction posed a significant barrier for Turkish applicants seeking to secure intellectual property rights in Syria and led to the effective exclusion of Turkish brands from formal protection within the country.

Under the new policy, Turkish applicants are now permitted to refile their previously rejected trademark applications. The TMO has confirmed that these applications will be processed in the same manner as other foreign filings, subject only to the payment of the official filing fees. Once submitted, applications will be examined under its standard procedures, and acceptance will be granted unless objections arise on grounds unrelated to the applicant’s nationality, such as descriptiveness, likelihood of confusion, or non-distinctiveness.

This change is expected to facilitate greater access to the Syrian IP system for Turkish applicants and may serve as an encouraging sign of improved administrative neutrality within the country’s intellectual property framework. It also underscores the evolving role of IP offices in ensuring equal access to protection irrespective of geopolitical factors.

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

Previously, a trademark application could consist of a maximum number of 10 items in the list of goods and services. The new decree allows more items for an additional charge of 5% of the official publication fee for each additional item.

This decree went into effect in January 2025.

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

Applicants may now request a one-month extension for specific deadlines, subject to a fee of $14. This applies to the following transactions:

• Late submission of required documents;
• Replying to an Examiner’s office action refusal decision;
• Submitting an opposition against a published trademark application;
• Filing a response to an opposition;
• Filing a response to a cancellation action;
• Submitting evidence in an opposition case, and
• Submitting evidence in a cancellation action case.

The same fee and rules also apply to requests for suspending trademark application procedures due to opposition initiated by third parties.

Applicants may submit additional extension requests as long as they are filed before the extended deadline.

For further information, please contact palestine@qumsieh.com.

These services are the publication of the Official Gazette, oppositions, recordals of assignment, and recordals of change of name and address.

This shift took place in early October 2024.

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