Patent information

We have just learnt, with no forewarning, that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Patent Office has suddenly stopped accepting new patent applications as of 6th January 2021. This decision is one of several issued following a GCC Council of Ministers’ meeting on 5th January 2021.

No information is yet available to the public on the amended GCC Patent Law. For now, however, the only option available to patent applicants wishing to obtain protection in the GCC member states of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE is by filing a separate Convention or (where possible) a PCT application in each jurisdiction of interest, as it is no longer possible to apply for a unified GCC patent. It appears that existing pending and granted GCC patent cases will allowed to proceed unaffected by this development.

Types of Patent

Substantive with or without priority claims.

International Arrangements

Convention priority can be claimed.

Duration

20 years from the date of filing the application.

Renewal

Annuities are payable on 1st January in each year following the year in which the application is filed and may be paid up until 31st March, without late fine.  A further 3 months (up until 30th June) is available upon payment of a late fine.