Qatar has become the fifth to implement "Gulf Cooperation Council Trademark Law" ( " "GCC Trademark law" " ) The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Member state, This marks another significant development in trademark practice and cooperation in the region. 2023 years 7 month 9 day, "2023 Year control 56 Ministerial decree" Clause of (With implementing rules) in "Official Journal of Qatar" Publish on, The purpose of the decree is to simplify the procedures for protecting and maintaining trademark registrations in Qatar. These regulations will be 2023 years 8 month 10 Officially come into force. now, The parties concerned shall pay any outstanding official fees to the extent possible, Because fees are going to go up dramatically when the law goes into effect.

"GCC Trademark law" That includes Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates 6 a GCC After years of negotiations among member states, End up in 2013 released. however, It can only adopt the law if it has already been announced (Together with the national implementing rules) And declared nationwide in the state of effect. The UAE is now the only country that has not adopted the law GCC nation, moreover, In view of the new UAE "Federal trademark law" Has been introduced and in 2022 years 1 Effective January, It is therefore unlikely to be adopted in its current form "GCC Trademark law" . though "Federal trademark law" adopted "GCC Trademark law" Many terms of, But there are some differences and extensions.

"GCC Trademark law" unlikeness "Gulf Cooperation Council Patent Law" ( " "GCC Patent law" " ) That's a uniform law, Because brand owners still need to adopt the act in each GCC Member States protect their trademarks, And each member state still has a great deal of discretion in interpretation and practical impact. merely, The Act seeks to achieve greater harmonization of registration and enforcement practices throughout the region.

Qatar's national trademark law was last updated 2002 Year control 9 No law completed, therefore "GCC Trademark law" Its adoption will produce some immediate and significant changes in practice (Includes changes in official fees) , include:

－The examination period shall be from the date of application 90 day (It may take some time and some administrative restructuring to take effect) ;

－If the application is approved, it is conditional, Then the applicant will have 60 Days to appeal the decision, Or at 90 Make the application eligible within days, Otherwise, the application will be considered abandoned;

－If the petition is denied, The applicant may be notified from the date 60 File a complaint within days, Otherwise, the application will be considered abandoned;

－If the applicant receives a decision of recognition, Shall be on the date of notification 30 Payment of publication fee within days, Otherwise, the application will be considered abandoned;

－Objection period 4 The month was reduced to 60 day.

In addition, Some changes in official fees are also noteworthy, Specifically as follows:

Publication fee 325 Qatari riyal increased 500 Qatari riyal, Registration fee from 2025 Qatari riyal increased 3000 Qatari riyal, Renewal fee (Including publication fee) from 2000 Qatari riyal increased 3500 Qatari riyal, Application fees and opposition fees (The cost of applying for a hearing is not included) Remain unchanged, All are 1000 Qatari riyal.

For many brand owners looking to expand or simply maintain trademark protection in this otherwise expensive region, These rising costs may not be good news. however, If it leads to a more efficient program, And shorten the current review for implementation purposes, Lengthy time to publish and register certificates for processing, That would be good news in a way. (Be compiled from www. lexology. com)

TRANSLATORS: Wang Dan　proofread: Liu Peng

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