Abu-Ghazaleh Intellectual Property (AGIP) would like to notify its clients and associates that it has been advised verbally by the Libyan Trademark Office at the General Peoples Committee for Economy and Trade that the Trademark Office has resumed its activities and started receiving applications for trademark registrations, in accordance with the provisions of the Law. All clients can benefit from this resumption of activities especially with respect to priority rights.
All applications filed from inception until 1981 will be accepted after completion of any requirements. On our website www.agip.com you can find the power of attorney form to be duly executed in the name of our agent.
We urge our clients to send us similar Power of Attorney forms as enclosed for these applications so that we may follow-up with the Trademark Office and complete any needed requirements.
As for applications filed between 1981 and August 2002, the Trademark office is still considering what action to be taken regarding the same. AGIP has been informed that due to local internal administrative problems, the Office is considering several options among which is discarding all such applications, considering them invalid and requesting re-filing without any consideration of priority rights.
AGIP Libya Office is still discussing this issue with the Trademark office to avoid such decision, which is predicated on problems within the Trademark Office records and documentation.
Therefore, AGIP urge its clients to re-file in any case because AGIP were advised that all such re-filing will be accepted in principle subject to completing the requirements. This may be significant because others may take advantage of this opening to file and create priority situation.
In view of the change of our Power of Attorney form and because of our keenness to serve and to share the problem with our associates and clients, AGIP offer to absorb the cost of legalization of the new Power of Attorney (to be deducted from the invoice) for all applications received as of this date and until December 31, 2003.
AGIP is making this offer in the spirit of partnership to facilitate the impact of these circumstances imposed by changes in the Trademark office and in accordance with their dictates.
It is important to state that we are unable to obtain written confirmation of the above. However all indications lead us to believe that it will be implemented.
AGIP / Libya