In an aim to update its laws and improve its procedures, the United Arab Emirates issued three Ministerial decisions on 2nd May 2001. The said decisions became effective as of the date of publication . The first Ministerial decision No. 66 for 2001 amends the Ministerial decision of 1998 and specifies that the registration fees for a trademark application or a group of of trademarks for products or services in one class will have to be paid within 60 days from the acceptance notifications issued by the Ministry; otherwise the application will be regarded as lapsed.
The Ministerial decision No. 67 stipulates the regulations for receiving the Publication fees, whereby the publication charges for a trademark must be paid within 60 days from the acceptance of the trademark application or amendment. However, the publication fees should be paid upon filing for renewals, or applications for recordal of assignments, mergers, licenses or cancellation of a license or a trademark.
The letters-patent will be issued if no opposition is filed before the Grievances Committee within three months from the publication date.
Initially, the official inauguration of the Gulf Corporation Council (GCC) Patent Office, in Riyadh, was held on Sunday, February 21, 1999. An amendment to the law and regulations came into effect on August 16, 2000. In an aim to effectively activate its operation, the GCC Patent Office immediately proceeded to conduct examination through international examining boards. In April 2001, 72 patent applications had passed the initial substantive examination and were ready to be transferred to the member states of the GCC for approval and comments.
Substantive examinations are currently revealing many standpoints not addressed by the amendment of August 16, 2000.
These should slowly be determined by the practice of the GCC patent Office or by the case law. The AGIP Bulletin will Publish further advice on these aspects in due course.