Trademark Registration in Bahrain in 2023
Bahrain’s economy is expanding, and as a result, the country has a large number of firms operating there that sell various goods and services. Due to the intense competition in the nation’s markets, brand owners are obligated to take steps to safeguard their products and services.
By registering trademarks, Bahrain has put in place strong restrictions to safeguard companies’ intellectual property interests.
Trademark registration in Bahrain provides businesses with a variety of advantages, including business identity protection and defense against competitors who may use identical or confusingly similar marks. This can thereby help the businesses that are registered in Bahrain by eliminating confusion regarding nearly identical marks.
This article will explain the trademark registration process in Bahrain. Further, it will also go through trademark definitions, trademark class structures, renewals, and the paperwork needed for trademark registration in Bahrain.
About trademarks in Bahrain
A trademark is a symbol or design adopted to set one company’s commodities, services, or offerings apart from those provided by other companies. A trademark in Bahrain may consist of a word, phrase, character, digit, image, logo, design, form, one or more colors, or a mixture of those, as well as a sign or collection of signs. Trademark registration in Bahrain is effective for ten years beginning on the date the request was submitted, and it may be extended for further ten years.
Bahrain’s trademark class structure
Trademark registration in Bahrain is done using a “class” method. Various goods and services are covered by separate trademark classes. There are 45 global categories, and Bahrain permits the registration of trademarks in 44 of them. Each category of product or service is required to register using a different application.
However, trademark registration in Bahrain for the categories of products or services that have nothing to do with your business could be pointless and expensive. Selecting the appropriate category is essential for ensuring proper security and reducing unnecessary spending.
The trademark registration process in Bahrain
The step-by-step instructions for the trademark registration process in Bahrain are discussed below:
1. Thorough trademark search
One of the first steps of the trademark registration process in Bahrain is to assure that the trademark is capable of being registered. In Bahrain, it is not required by law to do a thorough trademark search. However, doing the mark search will assist brand proprietors in avoiding any problems with other already existing trademarks. The step to search for trademark registration online in Bahrain can be carried out digitally via the portal of the ministry of industry and commerce or it can be done physically at the trademarks office.
2. Deciding on the kind of mark
You must select the sort of mark you’d like to apply. The trademark applications should be filed in the appropriate categories of products and services. In Bahrain, registrants aren’t permitted to submit multiple mark applications, instead, they must submit a new request for every category.
3. Submitting an application
After making sure that the mark doesn’t clash with any already registered trademarks, the proprietor may submit a request for trademark registration in Bahrain. Bahrain permits two different methods of registering a trademark, one is for Bahrainis, and the other is for international individuals. Bahrainis may submit a request for registering a trademark to the trademark office at the industrial property directorate. International individuals who aren’t residents of Bahrain must file their applications through Bahraini intellectual property companies or trademark agencies.
Moreover, the process of trademark registration online in Bahrain may be requested electronically via the portal of the ministry of industry and commerce, which also enables the modification of already authorized marks.
4. Reviewing the application
The trademark office will review the application when it has been submitted for enrolling the trademark to determine whether an identical or comparable trademark has previously been filed. The trademark office will assess whether the application adheres to all the criteria of the trademark law in Bahrain.
5. Publishing in the Official Gazette
The trademark would be approved for registration once all requirements have been satisfied. Applications for trademarks that the authority has approved are mentioned in the official gazette. There is a 60-day timeframe during which any person may oppose the mark by filing an objection. If no objections are raised during the given duration, a certificate of registration would be granted by Bahrain’s industrial property directorate.
Paperwork needed for trademark registration in Bahrain
Listed here are the several documents required for trademark registration in Bahrain:
- Trademark registration application form.
- A power of attorney bearing the sign of the individual’s authorized signatory.
- Name, residence, and occupation of the candidate, along with all other essential details.
- The description of products and services that the trademark is intended to cover, as well as the international classifications.
- Evidence that the necessary charges have been paid.
What things in Bahrain are not eligible for trademark registration?
- A mark without any distinguishing characteristics, or a mark that merely contains the popular words that people use to refer to merchandise and services or common designs and images of products.
- Phrases, illustrations, or marks that are unethical or against the law.
- Red crescent or red cross symbols, related symbols, and counterfeits of those symbols.
- Trademarks possessed by individuals or entities whose trading is prohibited in accordance with a judgment made in this regard by the relevant authorities.
- Marks that could potentially confuse consumers or provide misleading details regarding the origin, nature, or other characteristics of the commodities or services.
- Logos that are the same as or comparable to religious items.
Extension of Trademark Registration in Bahrain
Trademark registration in Bahrain is good for ten years after the request is submitted. After that, the mark is renewable for additional ten-year terms. The time limit of six months for delayed extensions is available to trademark holders.
The law prohibits third parties from registering the trademark if it has not been extended during the allotted term. Nonetheless, they can submit a trademark application after three years have passed since the revocation date.
Conclusion
Today, registering a trademark is essential for safeguarding your brand’s goods from those of your competitors. Also, trademark registration can assist in preventing consumer confusion between your items and those of competitors who operate within the same market but have a poor image. Trademark registration in Bahrain is crucial in securing one’s ownership of intellectual property and prohibiting the use of identical or confusingly identical trademarks by third parties.
If you want to get your trademark registered in Bahrain, you can speak with our experts at Odint Consulting. Our experts will make sure all specifications are fulfilled and assist you with the trademark registration process in Bahrain.
FAQ’s
The following steps are included in Bahrain’s trademark registration process:
- Searching for the trademark to make sure it hasn’t already been registered.
- Decide the kind of mark you want to use.
- Filing a request to the ministry of industry and commerce.
- The authorities review the application.
- Applications for trademarks that the authority has accepted are listed in the official gazette.
After becoming registered, a trademark is secured for a term of ten years. The mark is then extendable for an extra period of ten years.
Yes, trademark registration online in Bahrain can be done electronically via the portal of the ministry of industry and commerce.
- Form for registering a trademark.
- Power of Attorney
- The name, address, and employment information for the candidate are also included.
- The list of products and services the trademark is meant to cover.
- Evidence that the required fees have been paid.
- It may be bought, sold, or licensed.
- Safeguarding your company’s identity.
- Prevents others from using the same marks as yours.
- Prevents confusion among consumers regarding similar marks.
The fees for filing trademark registration applications in Bahrain varies based on the sort of trademark and the number of categories. In general, the filing fee is approximately BHD 100.
