Utility Models Law – NJQ & Associates

Sudan – Protection of Utility Models Can be Filed as Patents

NJQ & Associates — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 14:11:12 +0000

As you may know, there were no provisions in the Law to protect Utility Models in Sudan, however and after negotiations with the Register, it will now be accepted and treated as patent application until amending the Law.

For more information, please contact us at sudan@qumsieh.com.

Yemen – New Intellectual Property Law Updates

NJQ & Associates — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 13:32:37 +0000

New Trademarks, Patents, and Industrial Designs law, Utility Models, as well as Integrated Circuits, Trade Secrets, and Geographical Indications law have been published in the Official Gazette No. 2/2011 in January 2011. The new Law has brought forward the following changes:

Trademarks:

The opposition period has been reduced to 90 days instead of 6 months.
The level of protection for well-known and famous trademarks is increased; those trademarks can be protected in other classes other than those they are registered in.
Priority can be claimed within 12 months from the date of last action. Before it was 6 months.
Grace period of late renewal extended to 12 months instead of 3 months.
Remedies in case of court decision: two years imprisonment and/or YER 1,000,000 (US$4600) instead of 2 – 3 months imprisonment and/or YER 10,000 (US$460).

Patents:

Protection period increased to 20 years instead of 15 years.
Maintenance fees are paid annually before grant as it was accepted earlier after allowance.
Claiming priority is now accepted within 12 months from the date of the international application.
In case of infringement, remedies of YER 1,000,000 (US$4600) to be paid instead YER 10,000 (US$460).

Industrial Designs:

Now design applications are subject to publication and open for an opposition period within 90 days by interested third-party. Earlier it was granted after completing the formal requirements without advertisement and could only be contested through the court.
Novelty requirements are absolute.
Duration of design is 10 years from filing date with no annuities to be paid, instead of 5 years renewable for same period one time.
Penalties in case of infringement were increased 1,000,000 YER (US$4600) instead 10,000 YER (US$460).

Utility Models:
Utility Models are protected for 7 years from the filing date and are non-renewable.

Integrated Circuits:
Integrated Circuits are now considered and protected for 10 years from date of filing.

Trade Secrets:
According to the new law, trade secrets are now protected. The protection extends to the undisclosed information which was part of a special effort to produce new chemical products to be used for medical and agricultural products.

Korea – Patents and Utility Models Update

NJQ & Associates — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 08:41:46 +0000

The Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) announced an adjustment of all fees effective January 1, 2009. Fees for initial examination went up 20% and for request of appeal 50%. On the other hand, fees for initial registration and annuities went down by 10%.

Bahrain – Old Patents and Utility Models are Subject for Payment of Annuities

NJQ & Associates — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 07:03:36 +0000

As per the Implementing Regulations of Law No. 1 of 2004 in respect of Patents and Utility Models in Bahrain effective 14 June 2006, whereas annuities are due after grant, the Bahrain Patent Office BPO has requested all agents to provide with a list of all old registered patents and utility models which are still valid to be entered in the computer system to advise the exact due annuities and dates of payment relating the remaining period of protection.

A grace period of six months, from the due date, is given to the owners of the registered patents/utility models to pay the due fees, after payment of penalty of late annuity fees. Please send us details of your Patents and Utility Models you would like to keep in force in order to comply with the above requirements.

Bahrain – Registration of Patents and Utility Models are Now Available

NJQ & Associates — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 07:00:00 +0000

Due to the issuance of the new Patent and Utility Model Law, No. 2004, the Bahrain Patent Office (BPO) had ceased to receive any patent application from January 28, 2004 until the promulgation of the Implementing Regulations.

As of June 14, 2006 the BPO has resumed receiving patent and utility model applications.

The main aspects of the new Law are:

Duration:

Patent duration is 20 years instead of 15 years earlier.
Utility Models are protected for 10 years, which was not available before.

Payment of annuities:

Annuities are to be paid after filing, calculated as of the filing or priority date.
Previously there were no maintenance fees to be paid for patents.

Patent filing requirements:

Simply signed power of attorney.
The full particulars of the applicant.
The title of the patent and a summary description of the invention.
Photocopy of patent application from home/ foreign country.
Certified copy of priority document.
Specification claims and three sets of the formal drawings with Arabic thereto.