Trademark in UAE

UAE: Trademark E-filing Possible as of December 6, 2015


EFILING

Effective December 6, 2015, the U.A.E Trademark Office will launch an electronic service enabling trademark owners and trademark agents to file applications for registration and renewal of trademarks online. In a new circular addressed to trademark agents in UAE, the Trademark Office stated that after e-filing of the application, the hard-copy of the application must also be sent to the Trademark Office in Abu Dhabi by ordinary mail. The circular further stated that all service centres at the Ministry of Economy will stop receiving manual trademark applications as of the said date.

It is to be noted that the e-filing service of the Trademark Office will be limited at this point of time to filing new trademark applications and applications for renewal of trademarks. The Trademark Office will announce the availability of other trademark e-services in due course.

United Arab Emirates: Breaking news – official fees for IP matters to increase by 100% or more

The Ministry of Economy in the United Arab Emirates has published a list of official fee increases including for patent, trademark, design and copyright matters. The increases were made by ministerial decision no. 9 of 2015 which appeared in the official gazette dated 31 March 2015. The increases come into effect 60 days after publication – namely, on 29 May 2015.

How to Register Trademark in UAE

The United Arab Emirates is a member to the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property. The international classification of goods is followed in the United Arab Emirates. The Law covers the seven Emirates of Dubai, Abu-Dhabi, Sharjah, Ras Al-Khaimah, Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al-Quwain. The Trademark Law does not provide for the protection of trademarks covering alcoholic goods. A separate application should be filed with respect to each class of goods or services. A certified translation of the trademark is to be submitted as well.

Once a trademark application is filed, it is examined as to its registrability. Trademark applications accepted by the Registrar are published in the Trade Mark Journal as well as in two local daily Arabic newspapers and the cuttings of the notices are to be submitted to the Trademark Office. Any interested party may file a notice of opposition to the registration of the mark within 30 days from the date of the last publication. The Registrar's decision concerning the opposition may be appealed to the Committee and the Committee's decision to the competent court. In the absence of opposition, a trademark is registered and the relative certificate of registration is issued.

A trademark registration is valid for 10 years as from the date of filing the application renewable for similar periods. The renewal fees of a trademark registration can be paid during the final year of the protection period.