MANAMA - His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, issued on April 29, 2006 Law No. 5 of 2006 for Integrated Circuits and Law No. 6 of 2006 for Industrial Designs in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

As per the new laws, protection period for industrial designs is ten years starting from the date of filing the application renewable for another five years, whereas, the protection period for integrated circuits is ten years starting from the date of filing the application, or from the date of the first commercial exploitation in the Kingdom or abroad.

The laws, which were published in the Official Gazette No. 2737 dated May 3, 2006, specify requirements for the registration, renewal, ownership transfer and licensing of industrial designs and integrated circuits.