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.

With this adoption, all new trademark applications filed in Bahrain will now be examined in accordance with the updated classification structure. This move aligns Bahrain’s trademark practice with the latest international standards and enhances consistency with other jurisdictions that have already transitioned to the 12th Edition.

Our team is monitoring the implementation closely and is available to assist clients in reviewing their trademark portfolios or preparing new applications in accordance with the revised classification.

For more information, please contact bahrain@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.

Those products are as follows:

• Household electric storage water heaters
• Household electric room heaters
• Household electric cooling devices
• Household air conditioners
• Electric ovens
• Cigarettes

For a foreign company to obtain the Quality Certificate, it must first have a Foreign Company Branch registered in Iraq.

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

Therefore, the requirement to submit a legalised PoA annually has been abolished.

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

Previously, after obtaining the initial acceptance from the TMO, applicants could file the trademark application after the payment of the official filing fees. The TMO would then review the formalities of the application (i.e. submission of the PoA) and send a request to pay the official publication fees. Per the new practice, however, the official publication fees must be paid with the official filing fees.

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

To do that, IP agents need to book an appointment with the Ministry, which could take up to a month to secure. Once booked, the agent must appear in person before the Ministry. This procedure can be an obstacle in case of a priority claim, renewal deadline, or any other matter with a deadline.

For more information, please contact saudi-arabia@qumsieh.com.

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

It is still possible, however, to submit a fully legalised POA within the six (6) month period.

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

The implementing regulations have yet to be issued, but the summary below identifies the key features:

Trademark Scope
The Law expanded the scope of protection of trademarks to include 3D marks, sound marks, smell marks, colour marks, and hologram marks. In addition, it expanded the definition of trademarks to cover Geographical Indications (GI).

While GI was addressed in the previous law, the new Law regulated GI, included a definition of the term, and addressed the conflict between GI and trademarks.

The Law set up clear criteria to measure whether a trademark can fall under the well-known trademarks category. It has also introduced the possibility of filing series trademark applications.

It also opened the window for individual applicants to file trademark applications, while previously, only companies were allowed to register trademarks.

Finally, it is no longer mandatory to record trademark licenses at the Trademark Office (TMO) registry. There will be no effect for not recording the same.

Classification
The UAE now follows a multi-class filing system making it possible to file a single trademark application including multiple classes. Previously, each class had to go into a separate application.

Publication
The Law has omitted the requirement of publication in two local newspapers. Only publication in the Official Gazette remains required. This affects new trademark applications, renewals, recordals, and amendment applications.

Examination
The TMO will examine trademark applications within ninety (90) days from the date of the application rather than thirty (30) days as per the previous practice.

Trademark Grievances Committee
The Law changed the internal structure of the Trademark Grievances Committee (the Committee). It is now headed by a specialised judge nominated by the Minister of Justice and two specialised members appointed by the Ministry.

Normally, applicants/agents would have to file any objections to decisions issued by the TMO regarding applications, oppositions, and cancellations before the Committee. Now, after appealing the TMO’s decision, the Committee issues its decision, which can be appealed before the Federal Court of Appeals, opposite to the previous practice where appealing the TMO’s decision was possible before the Court of First Instance.

Trademark Enforcement
Unless a trademark was registered in bad faith, it would become irrevocable after five (5) years from the date of its registration, provided that it was not challenged during this period.

The Law provides a five-year term for a prior user of a trademark to request the cancellation of a registered trademark. It also delegates the Ministry to handle trademark cancellation actions regardless of the reason for the cancellation.

Finally, a significant increase in the penalty fines was set for trademark infringement.

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