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Qatar - Jurisdictions

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Qatar
Jurisdiction

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TRADEMARK
Registration
    Information:
    • MEMBERSHIP:
      WIPO, TRIPS and Paris Convention
    • CLASSIFICATION:
      7th edition – single class application
      Class 33, alcoholic goods in class 32, and pork meat in class 29 cannot be registered
    • CLAIMING PRIORITY:
      Possible
    • SEARCH/TIME FRAME:
      Possible for word and device marks / 7 – 10 working days
    • EXAMINATION:
      On formal, absolute, and relative grounds
    • EXTENSION OF TIME:
      Not possible for filing oppositions, counter oppositions, and responding to office actions
    • VALIDITY:
      10 years as from the filing date
    • RENEWAL:
      For unlimited period of 10 years each
    • GRACE PERIOD:
      6 months from the protection’s expiry date
    • USE:
      Vulnerable to cancellation by any interested party if there has been no effective use of the mark for a period of 5 consecutive years preceding the date of filing for cancellation
    Requirements:
    1. A Power of Attorney duly legalized up to Qatar Consulate;
    2. A certified copy of the Extract from the Commercial Register or Articles of Incorporation or any equivalent document duly legalized up to Qatar Consulate; and
    3. Twenty prints of the mark.
      • A general POA may be used for subsequent filings.
      • POA and Certificate of Incorporation must be submitted at the time of filing.
      • Priority document may be submitted within 6 months from date.
    Time frame:
    1. Filing up to Examination: 18-20 months
    2. Examination up to Publication: 2-3 months
    3. Opposition Period: 4 months from the publication date
    4. End of opposition period up to issuance of registration certificate: 1-3 weeks
    5. Total estimated time frame: 24-27 months
      6. The above time frame is for a normal/smooth processing of a trademark application, in case of no objections by the trademark examiner or no oppositions from a third party.
Renewal
    Filing Requirements:
    1. A Power of Attorney duly legalized up to Qatar Consulate.
Change of Name or Address
    Filing Requirements:
    1. A Power of Attorney duly legalized up to Qatar Consulate; and
    2. Extract from the commercial register or any other document evidencing this change, legalized
    • May be recorded for applications and registrations.
Assignment
    Filing Requirements:
    1. A Power of Attorney duly legalized up to Qatar Consulate;
    2. Deed of assignment, legalized; and
    3. Copy of certificate of incorporation of assignee.
Merger
    Filing Requirements:
    1. A Power of Attorney duly legalized up to Qatar Consulate; and
    2. Certificate of merger, legalized.
    • May be recorded for applications and registrations
License
    Filing Requirements:
    1. A Power of Attorney duly legalized up to Qatar Consulate;
    2. License agreement, legalized; and
    3. Copy of certificate of incorporation of licensee.
    • License recordal is not compulsory but highly advisable in order to be effective against third parties.
    • May be recorded for applications and registrations.
PATENT
Information
    Information:
    • EQUIVALENT SEARCH:
      Not available at this time. The patent office began receiving applications in 2012.
    • EXAMINATION:
      As to form, novelty, inventiveness and industrial applicability
    • PUBLICATION:
      Applications will be published upon grant in the official gazette
    • OPPOSITION:
      Oppositions may be filed within 60 days from announcement
    • ANNUITIES:
      Due annually on the anniversary of the international filing date and payable prior to grant.
      6 - month grace period for late payment with a surcharge
    • PROTECTION TERM:
      20 years from the international filing date
    Requirements:
    1. A Power of Attorney duly legalized up to the Qatari Consulate;
    2. Specification of the invention in English, together with Arabic translation;
    3. Complete particulars of applicant(s), inventor(s) and priority information; and
    4. Copies of specifications, claims, abstract and drawings in English and Arabic.
Change of Name or Address
    Filing Requirements:
    1. A Power of Attorney, duly legalized up to the Qatari Consulate (If new name).
Assignment
    Filing Requirements:
    1. A Power of Attorney, duly legalized up to the Qatari Consulate; and
    2. Deed of Assignment, legalized.
Merger
    Filing Requirements:
    1. A Power of Attorney duly legalized up to the Qatari Consulate.
License
    Filing Requirements:
    1. A Power of Attorney, duly legalized up to the Qatari Consulate; and
    2. License Agreement, legalized.
DESIGN
Information
    Information:
    • The Design Law came into effect, however, the Implementing Regulations are yet to be issued. The only available means of protecting design is publishing cautionary notices in Arabic and English in local newspapers.
    Requirements:
    1. Particulars of the owner/designer, i.e. name, address, nationality and nature of business;
    2. Brief description of the design with two sets of formal drawings; and
    3. Particulars of corresponding foreign registration, if any.
COPYRIGHT
Information
    Information:
    • MEMBER OF BERNE CONVENTION:
      Yes
    • REGISTRATION:
      Possible for nationals and foreigners
    • REGISTRATION TIME FRAME:
      The approximate time frame for completing the registration process is one week
    • DURATION:
      In general, the duration is the artist’s life with the addition of 50 years following the artist’s date of passing
    • WORKS PROTECTED:
      Books, pamphlets and other writings; Works delivered orally such as lectures, addresses, sermons or similar works such as poems and hymns; Dramatic and dramatic-musical works; Musical works, whether or not they include accompanying words; Choreographic works and pantomimes; Audiovisual works; photographic and similar works; Works of applied art, whether handicraft or produced on an industrial scale; Works of drawing and painting with lines and colors, architecture, sculpture, decorated arts, engravings, sketches, designs and three-dimensional geographic or topographic works; Computer programs.
    • LIMITATIONS ON PROTECTIONS:
      Laws, legal provisions, administrative decisions, international treaties, official documents or any official translation thereof; Daily news and other news of mere informatory nature; Ideas, procedures, operational methods, mathematical concepts, principles, and mere data
    • PENALTIES:
      Penalties include payment of fines of up to 100,000 Riyals (approximately 27,500 US Dollars), as well as legal prosecution resulting in a maximum of 1-year imprisonment terms
    Requirements:
    1. A Power of Attorney duly legalized up to the Qatar Consulate;
    2. Details/particulars of the Author;
    3. A certified copy of the home or foreign registration of the copyright;
    4. Five copies of the work; and
    5. Detailed specification of the work.
DOMAIN NAME
Requirements
    Requirements:
    1. A Power of Attorney duly legalized up to the Qatar Consulate; and
    2. Copy of the trademark/service mark Certificate of Registration.
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