UAE: Elimination of Registration Certificate Requirement for Post-Registration Actions
The UAE Ministry of Economy has streamlined its administrative processes by eliminating the need to provide a copy of the trademark registration or the most recent renewal certificate when undertaking post-registration actions. This simplification applies to a wide range of procedures, including TM renewals, assignments, licenses, recordals for changes of name or address, mergers.
Egypt: Increase in the Official Fees for IP Intellectual Property Services
The Egyptian Intellectual Property Authority has issued an official administrative circular reflecting an increase in the official fees for all trademark, and industrial design services.
The updated structure introduces a unified additional service fee of EGP 500 (USD 10) which is now mandatory for every service provided by the General Administration to all procedures related to trademarks, , industrial designs, and geographical indications.
Despite these significant changes to the government tariff, JAH Intellectual Property has maintained its current professional service charges without increase. We remain committed to providing our clients with the highest level of expertise and transparency as we navigate these new regulatory requirements together.
Algeria: Important Update on Patent Practice in Algeria Regarding PCT Amendments
A significant shift in the administrative practice of the Algerian National Institute of Industrial Property (INAPI) concerning the filing of amendments for PCT patent applications has been recently observed. In a move toward stricter procedural compliance, INAPI has begun rigorously enforcing the provisions of PCT Articles 28, 41, 51 and 78 of the PCT Rules. Under this updated practice, any voluntary amendments to the description, claims, or drawings must be submitted to the Institute within a strict deadline of one month from the date of the application’s entry into the Algerian national phase.
Once this one-month window has expired, the opportunity to modify the substance of the application is effectively closed. Pursuant to Article 26 of Algerian Ordinance No. 03-07, only the rectification of purely material or physical errors may be sought thereafter. Such corrections rely upon the applicant providing legal proof of the error and the payment of a specific rectification fee. Should the applicant fail to submit amendments within the prescribed period or neglect the payment of the required fees, the INAPI will proceed to deliver the patent in its original filed state. This represents a critical departure from previous practice, where INAPI historically accepted amendments filed concurrently with responses to Office Actions during the examination stage.
Most notably, this change in practice is being applied with retroactive effect. This means that the stricter one-month deadline now affects all pending applications currently within the Algerian patent system, including those that are already undergoing substantive examination. Because INAPI is now systematically refusing any amendments submitted after the initial one-month national phase entry period, the previous flexibility afforded to applicants during the examination phase no longer exists.
In light of these developments, we strongly recommend that all clients and associates finalize any intended amendments prior to or immediately upon the national phase entry in Algeria. Ensuring that all necessary modifications are included at the earliest possible stage is now the only certain method to avoid the refusal of amendments under this new administrative stance.