Sudan: the Sudanese Trademarks Office resumed its operation on 11 February 2024
As of 11 February 2024, the Sudanese Trademarks Office has resumed its normal operations after almost 10-month closure period as a result of the unrest in the country. As of now, the TM Office has started accepting filing of new trademark applications, renewals, recordals…etc. without attending to subsequent procedures such as examination of applications and supporting documents, which will be dealt with as soon as their trademark database has been updated.
In this regard, JAH intellectual Property has been monitoring the situation at the Sudanese TM Office very closely so that all pending instructions received during the TM Office closure period be dealt with immediately once the trademarks office resumes its normal operations. Therefore, all filing reports will be shared with our clients and associates shortly.
Qatar: New Patent Grievance Committee Formation:
The long-awaited Implementation of the Minister of Economy and Trade Resolution No. (154) of 2018 dated 1 May 2018 to form a grievances committee regarding decisions related to patent registration and licensing has now come to light. A new Grievance Committee has just been formed by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI) which stands now ready to review appeals related to patent application decisions.
This remarkable move reinforces Qatar’s dedication to the global intellectual property community as more applicants will feel more confident to seek protection over their IP rights in the state of Qatar.
The Minister of Economy and Trade has also issued two separate circulars asserting the following:
Circular No. 2/2024 Concerning the Payment of Patent Annuities:
The circular states that in case the Qatari Patent Office did not examine or issue any decision regarding a submitted patent application within a consecutive period of three years, the applicant, or their representative agent, may stop settling the annuities starting from the forth one until the Patent Office issues its acceptance or grant decision; at which point all outstanding (accumulated) annuities must be paid; while the remaining subsequent annuities can be paid in their respective year until the end of the protection period.
Circular No. 3/2024 Concerning the Withdrawal and Amendment of Patent Application:
According to Article 6 of Executive Regulation No. 153 of the year 2018 of the Patent Law No. 30 of 2006, Patentees may withdraw their applications anytime as long as no final decision of grant or rejection have been issued; at which point they can no longer recover their submitted documents nor can they retrieve the official paid fees. Equally, patentees may also amend their patent applications or submit supporting documents anytime as long as no final decision of grant or rejection have been issued. However, the amendments must not alter the essence or nature of the invention.
Should you need any information about publication of any of your clients’ marks or any further information or clarification on the above, please feel free to contact us: info@jahcoip.com.