MENA jurisdiction measures against the global pandemic (updated 31/05/2020)

 

AFGANISTAN: All operations suspended until JUNE 1 and deadlines to be met during this period will be automatically extended until the TMO reopens for business.

 

ALGERIA: Limited working hours as of March 22, 2020. A grace period of one month will be granted once business is back to usual. IP transactions are available but for limited cases. General lockdown till 30 May and Courts are still closed.

 

BAHRAIN: The TMO is functioning normally. No extension of deadlines announced as all necessary documents are submitted online.

 

DJIBOUTI: All operations suspended until further notice and deadlines to be met during this period will be automatically extended until the TMO reopens for business.

 

ETHIOPIA: Trademark & Patent office is partially operational.  Official documents can be submitted to the TOP Office as usual.

 

EGYPT: As of 10 May 2020, the TM Office started normal operations with all staff members and with full working hours and without any limitations, whilst the Patent Office will resume normal activities on June 2020.

 

GAZA: Fully operational as of 3 May 2020 with except to Tuesday which will be for internal work and not for receiving applications from agent

 

IRAQ: TMO started partial operations on 27 April 2020 with limited working hours and reduced staff number. All trademark transactions are available except trademark searches and filing new trademark applications.  Patent transactions are not available except cases with deadlines.

 

IRAN: TMO working hours reduced with most staff working remotely. No extension of deadlines announced yet as all IP transactions are available.

 

JORDAN: All governmental and public institutions resumed their usual activities as of 26 May 2020 and therefor all IP operations are now available normally; however, the TMO has issued on 26 May 2020 a circular to all IP agents whereby they have extended the 3 months oppositions for all trademarks, designs and patents which were due for registration during the lockdown as of 18 March.  Trademarks bearing the numbers from 165301 to 165640 published on 19 December 2019 are open for oppositions until 28 May 2020.  Trademarks bearing the numbers from 165641 to 166062 published on 31 December 2019 are open for oppositions until 8 June 2020. Trademarks bearing the numbers from 166063 to 166427 published on 21 January 2020are open for oppositions until 29 June 2020. Trademarks bearing the numbers from 16648 to 166833 published on 30 January 2020 are open for oppositions until 8 July 2020. Trademarks bearing the numbers from 166834 to 167181 published on 13 February 2020 are open for oppositions until 21 July 2020. Trademarks bearing the numbers from 167182 to 167600 published on 27 February 2020 January are open for oppositions until 4 August 2020.  Industrial Designs bearing numbers from 2413 to 2434 published on 31 December 2019 will be open from positions till 8 June 2020. Patents published on 17 February 2020 will be open for oppositions until 25 July 2020.

 

KURDISTAN (North Iraq): All IP activities have been resumed as usual with applying health precautions as of 11 May 2020.

 

KUWAIT: The Kuwaiti Government has announced a further extension for the government and public sector operations until 20 June 2020 and as such all IP operations and all deadlines related to IP prosecution and litigations have been extended as of 12 March to 20 June 2020 on resuming of operations of the IP offices with a 30% capacity of staff to be increased to 50% after three weeks as of 20 June 2020.  Meanwhile, we are liaising efforts with the official of the IP authorities to activate the online services for IP and in case of activation we shall inform you accordingly

 

LEBANON Complete shutdown till May 26, 2020; but the IPO has partially resumed activities in rotation with limited staff from 6 April prioritizing cases with deadlines, renewals and annuities. No extensions announced.  During this time any procedure can be undertaken without the necessary documents.

 

LIBYA: The TMO Is operating partially with reduced number of hours and no extensions announced yet.  All IP transactions are available without the necessary documents at the time of submission

 

MOROCCO: The TMO is functional for all online services with recordals being suspended for the time being until 20 May and deadlines involved are suspended until further notice.

 

OMAN: All operations suspended until further notice and deadlines to be met during this period will be automatically extended until the TMO reopens for business.

 

PAKISTAN: All IP Offices have opened on May 11, 2020 for public dealings and handling all IP transactions are now available with exception to attending hearing sessions in opposition cases which are still suspended.

 

QATAR: The PTO is functioning with reduced number of hours with only 20% of staff working at office and rest working remotely; they are only accepting physical requests for renewals and oppositions. All actions to be undertaken online continue without hindrance whilst assignment/license/amendment of form of the mark/obtaining certificates/copy of application actions are suspended until further notice.

 

SAUDI ARABIA: The TMO is functioning normally as most of IP transactions are undertaken online with submission of requisite documents online. Official deadlines, submission of documents have been extended until 30 May; however, during this time any procedure can be undertaken without the necessary documents. E-copies of notarized and legalized documents only can be submitted within the new deadline to be announced by Saudi Intellectual Property Office at a later stage.

 

SUDAN: All operations suspended for two more weeks from 19 May 2020 and deadlines have been extended to the same date. No IP transactions are currently available.

 

SYRIA: All operations suspended until further notice and deadlines to be met during this period will be automatically extended until the TMO reopens for business.

 

TUNISIA: Economic activities are resumed normally as of 4 May and IP transactions are available normally as of above date

 

TURKEY: The TMO is operational and accepting only online flings. All deadlines as of 13 March have been frozen and extended to 15 June 2020.

 

UAE: The TMO is functioning normally as all functions including hearing session are undertaken online or by email and necessary documents are submitted by email/upload. No extension of deadlines announced yet. Actions requiring legalized documents can be filed without necessary documents which can be submitted later.

 

WEST BANK: IP Offices resumed usual activities as of 26 May 2020 and all late deadlines are to be met immediately as IP Offices reopened for business normally with preventive precautious measures against Covid virus.

 

YEMEN: The TMO is functioning normally; no extension of deadlines announced yet; however legalized documents are no longer required and can submitted at a later stage and applications can be submitted with simply signed powers of attorney whilst certificates and opposition decisions shall be withheld until legalized powers of attorney are submitted