Summary
Bahrain is a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Patent Office. It is a regional office for the GCC, which comprises the United Arab Emirates, Kingdom of Bahrain, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Sultanate of Oman, State of Qatar and State of Kuwait. Certificates of patents granted by the Office secure legal protection of the inventor's rights in all member states.
A patent application should be filed in Bahrain within 6 months as of the filing date of the priority document, in order to claim priority. It is possible to enter a national phase patent application based on International PCT application. Such national phase applications must be filed within 30 months from the earliest priority filing date.
The Patent Office may require whatever amendments it deems necessary to bring the application into conformity with the law. In case the applicant does not comply with the requirements of the Patent Office as authorized by the Registrar of Patents, the Registrar will reject the application.
Under the law, a patent is valid for 20 years from the date of filing the application, or from the priority date in case of claiming priority. The application is subject to the payment of the prescribed annuity fees due, after the issuance of letters patent certificate, from the date of filing in Bahrain or the convention filing date in the case of priority applications.
Working of patents is an official requirement. In case the owner of a patented invention in Bahrain fails to satisfy the stipulated working requirements of the country within 3 years, as of the date of grant, or within 4 years, as of the date of application, whichever is longer, the patent will be subject to compulsory licensing under the provisions of the law.
Requirements
Filing Applications
1. A signed Power of Attorney; notarized and legalized up to Bahrain or any other Arab Consulate.
2. An extract from the Commercial Register or from the Memorandum of Association, if the applicant is a company, duly legalized up to any Arab consulate.
3. One copy of the English specification and claims together with its Arabic translation.
4. One set of the drawings relating to the invention, if any.
5. An abstract of the invention of no more than 200 words, together with the best explanatory diagram.
6. A deed of assignment signed by the inventor and the applicant and duly legalized up to an Arab consulate, if the applicant is not the inventor.
7. A certified copy of the application giving the filing date, number and country, if the application is to be filed with a priority claim.
Assignment Applications
1. A signed Power of Attorney, notarized and legalized up to Bahrain or any other Arab Consulate.
2. A deed of assignment executed by both parties and duly legalized up to an Arab consulate.
Registered User/License Agreement Applications
1. A signed Power of Attorney, notarized and legalized up to Bahrain or any other Arab Consulate.
2. License agreement executed by both parties and duly legalized up to an Arab consulate.
Change of Name/Address Applications
1. A signed Power of Attorney, notarized and legalized up to Bahrain or any other Arab Consulate.
2. A certificate proving the change of name or address issued by a competent authority of the applicant's domicile.
