Strategic Hub:
Situated at the crossroads of East and West, Oman offers a highly stable and transparent legal environment for foreign investors.
Regulatory Body:
IP rights are managed by the National Intellectual Property Office within the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion (MOCIIP).
International Standing:
As it is not a member of the Madrid Protocol, global brand owners must file separate national applications in Kuwait to secure protection.
Member of PCT ?
YES
Can Convention priority be claimed ?
Yes- the request is filed within the time limit prescribed in the time limit applicable under the Patent Cooperation Treaty to an international application for the submission of a priority claim after the filing of an international application.
Patent Search
Novelty requirement
Worldwide
Deadline for filing supporting documents
Yes- 60 days
Does the invention specification have to be translated for filing
Yes, a translation into ARABIC is required.
Required Documents
Priority Application Number and filing date, PCT Application Number and Filing date,
Applicant’s name and address and Inventor’s name and address.
Abstract, Specification, claims, and drawings (if any) in English & Arabic. In case, the complete Arabic translation is not ready at the time of filing the application, we can file the application with Arabic translation of the Abstract and Title.
Original Power of Attorney duly notarized and legalized either by the Apostille or legalized by the Consulate of Oman.
Deed of Assignment executed by the inventor(s), assigning their patent rights to the applicant, duly notarized and legalized either by the Apostille or legalized by the Consulate of Oman.
A valid simple copy of the Certificate of Incorporation of the applicant company or an extract of their entry in the Commercial Register or a Certificate of Good Standing (along with a simple English translation, if the document is not in English). The legalization is not required for this document.
A certified copy of the priority document (along with a simple English translation), if it is a national filing. Certified priority document is not required for the PCT Application.
Examination
As to form, novelty, inventiveness, industrial applicability, unity, and compliance
Publication
Patents are published in the Official Gazette after substantive examination and after grant
Opposition
120 days from first publication. The patent is re-published after grant but no opposition period is provisioned then
Duration
20 years from the international filing date
Compulsory Licensing
The application for a compulsory license shall be filed with the Registrar and shall be addressed to the Minister. if any, of compulsory licenses granted, and notify them to submit observations thereon, in writing, to the Registrar, within 90 (ninety) days of the date of the notification.
Annuities
Due annually on the anniversary of the international filing date and payable prior to grant. 6 months grace period for late payment with a surcharge
Assignment
Trademark Search
Not Mandatory- Possible for word and device marks.
Trademark Filing
Single/Multi-Class Jurisdiction
Single class - a separate application for each class
Can services be registered
YES
Can convention priority be claimed
YES
Is the international classification
Yes - 11th addition
Documentation and information required to file
Power of Attorney duly legalized up to Oman Consulate or Apostilled.
Copy of Certificate of Incorporation or Extract from the Commercial Register.
Certified copy of the priority document, if priority is claimed.
The name, nationality, address, and occupation of the applicant.
Print of the trademark.
(All the above may be submitted within 60 days from the filing date)
Opposition period after publication
60 days
Validity
Renewal
Renewal due
Grace Period
Documents required to renew
Proof of use due
Documents required to file proof of use
License
Documentation and information required to file the recordal of License
Change of name or address
Documentation and information required to file the recordal of change of name or address
Power of Attorney in the new name/address duly legalized up to Oman consulate or Apostilled.
Certificate issued by the competent authorities evidencing the changes or an affidavit proving the changes duly legalized as above or Apostilled.
Treaties and conventions
WIPO Convention, Brussels Convention, Trademark Law Treaty, Berne Convention, Paris Convention, Rome Convention, WIPO Copyright Treaty, WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty, Patent Cooperation Treaty, Madrid Protocol, Nice Agreement, Patent Law Treaty, Budapest Treaty, World Intellectual Property Organization, World Trade Organization, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), GCC Patent Law.