Patent

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What is a Patent?

A patent is an exclusive right guarantees the legal protection for your innovations, which is a product or a process that provides, in general, a new way of doing something, or offers a new technical solution to a problem.

Under the patent, you can prevent others from using your invention for commercial purposes for up to 20 years from the date of application in Kingdom of Bahrain. You have an exclusive right to decide who allows you to produce, sell or import your invention in the countries in which you own a valid patent. You can also trade your patent, for example, by selling or licensing your invention to others.

The national Law regulates the legal protection of inventions by means of patents in Kingdom of Bahrain is the Law No.(1) of the Year 2004 with respect to patents and forms of Benefit, amended by the Law No. (14) of 2006.

What is the benefit of the patent?

The protection provided by the Bahraini patent system contributes to the success of new inventions. If you are an inventor, using a patented invention embodied in a technology in your business, it is likely to improve your market power, provide your business with a competitive edge, and help you to make more money.

A patent will:

give you the right to stop others from manufacturing, using and/or selling your invention in Kingdom of Bahrain without your permission
let you license someone else to manufacture your invention on agreed terms or take legal action against people who are using your invention without your permission
encourage Bahrainis to continue their research, to develop new innovative products, exploit new technology and promotes the transfer of technology to Kingdom of Bahrain.
give Bahrain trading partner’s the incentive to provide similar rights and thereby protect our exports in markets overseas.

To be eligible for patent protection in Bahrain Law, your invention must:

Be new-never been made publication any way, anywhere in the Kingdom of Bahrain or in the word, before the date on which the application for a patent is filed.
Involve an inventive step-if when compared with what is already known, it would not be obvious to someone with good knowledge and experience of the subject.
Be capable of industrial application- an invention must be capable of being made or used in some kind of industry. This means that the invention must take the practical form of an apparatus or device, a product such as some new material or an industrial process or method of operation.

An Invention is not patentable if it is:

Scientific discoveries, theories and methods
Plants and animals – except microorganisms and biologically based methods for plant and animal production
Methods of diagnosis, treatment and surgery for the treatment of humans or animals, except for the products used in any of these methods.
The invention cannot be protected in Kingdom of Bahrain if the commercial exploitation of this invention violates public order or morals, violates the protection of life, human or animal health, plants or serious damage to the environment.

Applying for Patent Protection

Unlike a copyright, a patent does not arise automatically; an inventor must apply for a patent.

To obtain this protection, you may choose between a national patent, if you only want to protect your invention on Kingdom Bahrain territory, a reginal patent, if you are looking for protection in all countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

The Directorate of Industrial Property is the government body responsible for granting Intellectual Property rights in Kingdom of Bahrain. Can be contacted the Directorate of Industrial Property

Address: Bahrain Financial Harbour – Manama

Telephone: (+973) 17574838

(+973) 17574769

(+973) 17574835

Fax: (+973) 17536479

P.O. Box: 60667

Email: IPOnline@moic.gov.bh

You can take a look at their web page.

The Patent Office of Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) is a regional office specialized in the field of patents. Visit the web page.

There is currently, no universal, international system for the grant patents. However, the International Patent System (PCT) assists applicants in seeking patent protection internationally for their inventions. By filing one international patent application under the PCT, applicants can simultaneously seek protection for an invention in a large number of countries.

There are distinct procedures to follow involving different coast as well for each level of patent protection.

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Protect your innovation