MANAMA - The Directorate of Industrial Property (DIP) at the Bahraini Ministry of Industry and Commerce announced that it began accepting filing of patent and utility model applications in Bahrain effective June 14, 2006.
As per a communiqué issued by the DIP, which was directed to all industrial property registration agents in Bahrain, patent and utility model applications shall be filed on the form prescribed for this purpose at the Patent Office/ DIP. 

This filing became possible due to the issuance of decision No. 54 of 2006 published in the Official Gazette No. 2738 on May 10, 2006, which stipulated the issuance of the Implementing Regulations of Law No. 1 of 2004 in respect of Patents and Utility Models in Bahrain.
Meanwhile, His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa issued the following intellectual property laws in Bahrain. Such laws were published in the Official Gazette No. 2741 dated May 31, 2006:

• Law No. 11 of 2006 in respect of Trademarks.
• Law No. 12 of 2006 amending Law No. 7 of 2003 in respect of Trade Secrets.
• Law No. 14 of 2006 amending Law No. 1 of 2004 in respect of Patents and Utility Models.
• Law No. 16 of 2006 amending Law No. 16 of 2004 in respect of Geographical Indications.