As previously reported, Patent Law No. 30 of 2006 came into force in Qatar on 7th August 2006, but  this law would only become effective once the implementing regulations had been issued there.  On 5th July 2018, the long-awaited regulations finally entered into force.  These regulations will provide clarification to the patent procurement process in Qatar.     Please do not hesitate to contact us should you require any further information or...

Further to our recent article about the new IP Act in Namibia, we have now sought clarification from the Registrar concerning the term of patents.   Previously, we had been led to believe that patents granted under the new law would have a term of 14 years, as was the case under the old law, but that renewal fees will now be payable annually, on each anniversary of the filing date. However, following discussions with the Registrar, it has now been clarified as follows:   - Patents...

The Namibian Industrial Property Act, 2012 came into effect on 1st August 2018. This law repeals the Patents, Designs, Trade Marks and Copyright Act, 1916, the Patents and Designs Proclamation, 1923 and the Trade Marks in South West Africa Act, 1973. It provides for the registration, protection and administration of patents, utility model certificates, industrial designs, trade marks, collective marks, certification marks and trade names.   As far as patents are concerned, the previous...