The Ministry of Industry and Commerce in the Kingdom of Bahrain has issued Decision No. (13) of 2026, introducing a temporary three-month extension for submitting notarized and legalized documents related to industrial property applications. The measure applies to trademarks, patents, utility models, and industrial designs. The decision addresses exceptional circumstances that may...

The UAE Trademark Office has introduced flexibility regarding the submission of legalized Powers of Attorney (POA) for new trademark applications. The standard deadline of 90-days for submitting the duly legalized POA can now be extended with an additional period of 30 days beyond the original deadline upon approval of the extension request by the trademark office. This measure...

The 13th Edition of the Nice Classification came into force on 1 January 2026, introducing refinements across all classes. Adoption across MENA offices, however, remains uneven, leading to varying standards for trademark filings. Nice Classification Edition Applied MENA Jurisdictions 13th Edition Oman, Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria, United Arab Emirates,...

The Libyan Trademark Office has introduced a change in practice regarding trademark renewals. All renewal applications will now be accepted for a period of ten (10) years only. It is no longer possible to select a specific number of years for renewal, as was previously permitted. This approach is consistent with Article 1257, which states: “The protection period of a registered...

Starting February 16, 2026 and as part of aligning with international developments in the field of trademark registration, the State of Qatar has officially adopted the Nice Classification – 13th Edition (Nice 13). The 13th Edition enhances legal protection of trademarks by clearly defining the scope of goods and services in each class, while aligning Qatar’s trademark system with...

We write further to our previous Circular (16/12/2025) regarding the closure of the Temporary Registry office in Port Sudan. This is to advise that the Registrar General of Intellectual Property re-opened in a temporary office in South Khartoum. Please note that this office is not the original head office from before April 2023. Accordingly, all matters from before 15/April/2023,...

We are pleased to announce that One World Intellectual Property will be participating in the INTA Annual Meeting 2026 in London, England, at Booth #202 from May 2 – 6, 2026. Our team is excited to meet with industry experts, exchange insights, and stay up to date on the latest trends and developments in the IP sector. To schedule a meeting, please click “Schedule a Meeting” or...

The Council of Ministers, chaired by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, approved the new Copyright Law as part of ongoing efforts to enhance the protection of creators and raise protection standards in line with modern developments. The new law aims to provide more effective legal safeguards for authors and holders of related rights, while addressing the rapid...

H.E. Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al Thani, Qatar’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, concluded a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (Davos 2026). The engagements reflect Qatar’s ongoing efforts to accelerate economic diversification and deepen international cooperation across trade, investment, and industry, in line with the Third...

Patent activity in Morocco experienced significant growth in 2025, with 2,414 applications submitted, including 338 from local innovators—a 39% rise compared to 2024. Universities led the way, contributing 64% of domestic filings, followed by individual inventors (20%) and businesses (13%). Life sciences dominated, with pharmaceuticals (27%), biotechnology (14%), and organic...