BAHRIAN

COUNTRY : KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

CAPITAL : MANAMA

LANGUAGE : ARABIC

 

International Treaties to which Bahrain is signatory:

• Paris Convention for the protection of industrial property
• Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights –TRIPS.
• Trademark Law Treaty TLT
• Madrid Protocol for International filing of trademark
• NICE Classification of Goods & Services
• Berne Convention

 

The Intellectual Property Rights Office of Bahrain is known as the IPO and managed by Ministry of Industry Commerce and Tourism.

 

PROTECTION OF TRADEMARKS IN BAHRAIN:

1. NATIONAL REGISTRATIONS : Only for the territory of Bahrain.
2. INTERNATIONAL REGISTRATIONS : Through Madrid Protocol.

Please refer our Treaties section on International Protection under Madrid Protocol.

Therefore, to obtain protection in Bahrain, there are two options from which the applicant can choose.

• Kinds of Trademarks registrable in BAHRIAN

  • Following indications may be used as Trademarks in Bahrain:

    • Word mark
    • Numbers
    • Signatures
    • Characters
    • Codes
    • Sign Posts
    • Seals
    • Drawings
    • Sounds
    • Smelles
    • Letters
    • Symbols
    • Pictures
    • Inscriptions
    • Packaging
    • Figurative Elements
    • Figures
    • Colours
    • Combination of Colours
    • Combination of all of the above

    Types of Marks registrable:

    1.  Collective marks
    2.  Certification marks
    3.  Marks for non-commercial purposes
    4.  Service marks
    5.  Well Known marks
• Requisites for a Trademark to be registrable in BAHRIAN

  • Trademarks must contain the following essential requirements to be registrable in Bahrain:

    • Distinctiveness
    • Non-descriptiveness of the goods and / or services
    • Not be a well known term in the line of business, trade channels of the applicant
    • Not be same / similar / identical either visually and/or phonetically to prior registered / pending marks.
• Kinds of Trademarks not registrable in BAHRIAN

  • Applicants should bear in mind that the following will not be registrable as Trademarks in Bahrain:

    1. Trademarks not having distinctive characteristics, or consisting of signs or data that comprise of familiar drawings and ordinary pictures of goods and products.
    2. Every expression, drawing or sign which is immoral or contrary to public order and law of the land.
    3. Public Emblems, Flags, Military Emblems and other symbols of the State, Arab or International Organizations and institutions, or imitation of such Slogans therein.
    4. Imitations of the Red Crescent, Red Cross and such other recognized insignia.
    5. Trademarks which are identical or similar to religious symbols.
    6. Trademarks bearing Geographical names indicating the source or origin of the goods, products or services.
    7. Names, Titles, Images, Logos of third parties without express consent or authorization.
    8. Trademarks misleading the public, containing false information regarding the origin and source of products, services, marks imitated or forged and marks pertaining to fictitious businesses.
    9. Trademarks prohibited by the Ministry of Commerce and Agriculture.
    10. Trademarks identical or similar to those previously registered and marks degrading, devaluing prior registered marks along with existing businesses.
    11. Trademarks constituting reproduction, imitation, translations of well known marks.

    TrademarkCopia through its associate Law Firms and Lawyers in Bahrain is at hand to help you with trademark registration and prosecution.

• Trademark Search in BAHRIAN

  • It is highly advisable to conduct a search of the proposed mark to ensure that a similar mark has not been applied for by other contenders and is not pending registration or is already registered.

    A search is useful in determining the following:

    i. Conflict with existing trademarks.

    ii. Confirm validity of the proposed trademark.

    iii. Evaluate the filing of the application and assess the risk of nullity and 3rd party claims.

    iv. Strategise on the kind of mark to file regarding the denominations such as figurative, coloured, black & white etc.

    v. Search is a useful tool prior to filing of applications since search concerning prior pending marks carried out by the Bahrain Trademark Office.

    Our Attorneys are at hand to assist you with searches and provide opinions about registrarbility of the proposed / coined trademark in Bahrain.

• Trademark Filing in BAHRIAN

  • Filing is done with the Trademark office of Bahrain and applicant has to furnish the following documentation for filing:

    i, Name of the applicant

    ii. Logo (if any) in B/W or Colour

    iii. Address along with nationality of the Applicant

    iv. Classes in which Registration is sought.

    v. Power of Attorney (POA)

    vi. Priority details if any.

    vii. Details regarding Goods and Services for which registration sought (Goods and Services classified as per NICE classification)

    TRADEMARKCOPIA.COM Attorneys will assist you with:

    • Filings
    • Infringement & Opposition Actions
    • Renewals
    • License and Assignment procedures
    • Trademark Watch Services
• Trademark Examination in BAHRIAN

  • Once the application is filed, a Preliminary (Formality) examination regarding compliance of all the requisites is carried out along with a search for prior existing trademarks.

    Applicant as to make necessary changes, amendments if any within stipulated time post examination. Else, application is deemed as not filed.

    Post formality examination, substantive examination is conducted. Within 30 days from the date of filing of the application, the Registrar is to decide on the registrability of the application.

• Trademark Publication & Opposition in BAHRIAN

  • Once accepted for registration, the mark is to be published in the official Gazette.

    Within 60 days from the date of publication, interested third parties may lodge their objections with the Trademark Office regarding registration of the proposed mark.

    If there is no opposition forthcoming, the mark is registered and certificate of registration issued to the applicant.

    TrademarkCopia through its experienced Trademark Lawyers and Trademark Attorneys in Bahrain can comprehensively assist you with trademark opposition and prosecution.

• Trademark Registration in BAHRIAN

  • If the application does not encounter any opposition from third parties, it is registered, and certificate of registration issued.

    Registrar then enters the details of the trademark on to the Trademark Register.

    Certificate of registration is then issued to the applicant.

    Trademark registration in Bahrain is valid for 10 years from the date of filing after which it can be frequently renewed for another 10 years unlimited times. .

    Rights of Trademark Owners: Trademarks may be:

    • Transferred in whole or in part with or without compensation
    • Inherited – Assigned and licensed.
    • Mortgaged and creditors may seize such trademarks belonging to their debtors.
    • Licensed to natural or legal persons
    • Prevented from unauthorized usage by third parties
    • The subject of appropriate redressal from a court of law upon infringement
• Trademark Usage in BAHRIAN

  • Post Filing: Failure to use the mark continuously for 5 yrs. post registration could lead to premature termination of the mark.

• Trademark Cost of Registration in BAHRIAN

  • Please write mail for cost of registration of trademark in Bahrain  to the mail address given below:

    contact@trademarkcopia.com