Designs
Q:Are designs registrable in your country?
A:Yes.
Q:Should the design application be filed under the form of drawings and/or photographs, the size thereof and the number of views?
A:The design application should be filed with two copies of the drawing of the design if it is two-dimensional or two copies of each view if it is three-dimensional. The drawings shall be on 4A cardboard paper.
Q:What are the novelty requirements for a design application to be valid?
A:The novelty requirement for design is that the new design has no earlier precedence in the industrial prior art. The industrial prior art means all that was disclosed to the public anywhere and at any time whether by written or oral disclosure or by use or any other method which allows the understanding of the design.
Q:Can convention priority be claimed in your country? (Paris Convention).
A:Yes.
Q:Does your country use the international classification?
A:Yes.
Q:Are there any goods or services for which the mark can not be registered?
A:Yes, alcoholic drinks.
Q:Is the assignment of the creator compulsory for a design application?
A:Yes.
Q:Is there any deadline to apply for the publication of a secret filing of a model/design?
A:There is no secret filing of a model or a design.
Q:Are there any special advantages in filing a model or a design in a secret form?
A:There is no secret filing of a model or a design.
Q:Is it possible to file more than one design/model in the same application? If yes, are there any advantages in doing so?
A:No.
Q:What is the term of protection of a model or design in your country? Can this term be extended?
A:The term of the registration of an industrial design shall be five years starting on the filing date of filing the application. That term may be renewed twice consecutively.
Q:Is use required to maintain a registration of a model or design in your country?
A:No, actual use is not compulsory but nominal work is compulsory.
Q:Are designs/models protected by copyright law as well?
A:No.
Q:Are there provisions in your law to oppose a model/design registration?
A:Yes.
Q:Is it possible to apply for cancellation of a model/design filed in a secret form?
A:There is no secret filing of a model or a design.
Copyright
Q:Is copyright protected in your country?
A:Yes.
Q:What types of items are protected by copyright law in your country?
A:(a)Local authors
(b)Foreign authors
(c)Art ( Drawings or sculptures)
(c)Computer Programs
(d)Designs
(e)Motion Pictures & Music
(f)Photography
Q:What is the length of protection of a copyright in your country?
A:-Valid for the lifetime of the author plus 25 Gregorian years after his death.
-The validity for cinematic films and the works of applied arts, works made by corporate bodies, works of art published in pen names or without mentioning the author's name and the works published for the first time after the death of its author will be for 25 Gregorian years as of the publication date.
-The validity period of photographic works shall be for 10 Gregorian years as of the publication date.
Q:How long does a copyright take to be registered?
A:Approximately two years.
Q:What kind of sanctions does your copyright law provide against infringers?
A:Imprisonment and fine of not less than DHS 50,000 or either penalty and confiscation of copies of the work and order to close down the contravening firm.
Q:Are there any limitations of copyright in your jurisdictions?
A:No.
Q:Must transfer agreements be recorded?
A:Yes.
Q:Must license agreements be recorded?
A:Yes.
Q:Are there any consequences of non recordal of agreements?
A:Yes, they would not have any effect against third parties.