Intellectual Property Newsletter - July 2015

MIDDLE EAST & NORTH AFRICA REGION

Ramadan Kareem to all our readers.

As reported in our June 2015 newsletter, government offices and many local businesses across the MENA region operate shorter working hours during the Holy Month of Ramadan.

Please also note that many of the intellectual property offices in the MENA region will close during the festival of Eid Al Fitr which marks the end of Ramadan. Exact closure dates will vary across the region and, in most cases, the end of Ramadan (and the beginning of Eid Al Fitr) will only be announced one or two days in advance. Please speak with your contact at Clyde & Co for further information.

However, it has already been announced that the intellectual property offices in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) will be closed from 12 July to 21 July 2015 inclusive, reopening on 22 July 2015.

Clyde & Co news: Welcome David Wilkinson

David Wilkinson has joined the firm's London office as the Head of Clyde & Co's Intellectual Property practice in the UK. We are delighted that a lawyer of David's calibre and standing will be leading the growth of our UK intellectual property practice, and we very much look forward to working with him.

To find out more about David, please visit our website at http://www.clydeco.com/people/profile/david-wilkinson.

Saudi Arabia: Registration requirements for international brand owners

A recent announcement from the Ministry of Commerce & Industry has prompted Harriet Balloch and Rob Deans to review the steps which brand owners should take in Saudi Arabia to register commercial agency agreements and trade mark licences.

Market updates and insight from around the region

There are a number of interesting updates in this month's edition, including news that the Qatari Patent Office will soon be accepting PCT applications.

For further information, please speak to your usual contact in the Clyde & Co IP team, or email us at ip@clydeco.com.

UAE Trade Mark Gazette

The latest edition of the UAE Trade Mark Gazette was published on 7 July 2015. This month's opposition deadline is 5 August 2015.

If you identify any marks that are of potential concern, or if you have any queries, then speak to your usual contact in the Clyde & Co IP team, or email us at ip@clydeco.com.

The timeframe for arranging the legalisation of a Power of Attorney (which will need to be filed at the same time as any opposition) is generally around three weeks. With this in mind, please contact us as soon as...