Introduction to Directorate of Industrial Property

Industrial Property becomes the most important dynamic issue in the modern economic movements, which is based in Knowledge & Technology.
 
The IP have a tangible touch in many fields in our life such as Economic, Social & Political to draw new lines of changes, which save the rights of creativity & innovation.

There is no way to ignore the important of IP after it become a globalization issue & it has a big effect in many daily life field like Health, Commerce, Labor, Environment & Culture, in addition the investments & Technology changes.

Implementation of IP become necessary to be a part in both side Government & Individual to build a knowledge of improvement & Economical growth in one side, and social prosperity in other side. 
 
First regulation in Industrial property was issued in 1955 for patents, design & trade marks through Industrial Property Office, which was be consider one of the oldest IP office in the Gulf, and it gained a good international reputation, considering to enforcements it taken to protect the rights of IP.

The important policy for the Industrial Property Directorate in MOC (Ministry Of Commerce) is the continually developing, and continues tracing for International changes related to IP.

From that vision, IPD (Industrial Property Directorate) have a mission work to implement it to reality, which is keeping the commerce environment in Kingdom of Bahrain healthy to innovation either for dealer or customer.


Major Duties for the Directorate:

• Implement the local laws and regulation of Industrial Property.
• Representing the Kingdom of Bahrain by Attending the local and international meetings, conferences, symposiums and workshops of Intellectual Property, and all other international occasions in regards.
• Study the international agreements and its amendments in the field of Intellectual Property in general and Industrial Property in specific, in order to be a member.
• Developing the local Laws of Industrial Property according to commitments of International Organizations like World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), World Trade Organization (WTO), and International agreements and conventions in this regards.
• Implements the commitments stated in the international agreements joined by Kingdom of Bahrain, that are related to Industrial Property in specific, and issues all the needed notifications.
• Co-ordinate with the GCC Patents Office, and contributes in developing it, In addition to the local co-ordinate with the competent party in the Ministry of Information in regard of organizing work and follow up of the International Conventions and Agreements in the field of Intellectual Property Rights.
• Receive and examine requests for registration (examine it formality and objectivity, and co-ordinate with other International Patens Offices for objective research with regards to patents examination) of all Industrial Property branches, like Trade Marks, Patents, Industrial Designs, Integrated Circuits, Plants Varieties, Geographical Indication.
• Prepare the application which passes the examination for publication in the official gazette or any other kind of publication (before issuing the registration certificate), and Study oppositions received against the registration within legal periods.
• Issues registration certificates for all kinds of Industrial Property.
• Investigate cases of imitations, infringements, and unfair competition to study it and take the necessary action, in addition to the Fight against the phenomenon of and aggression against the rights of Intellectual Property, and insure that this phenomenon is not actually taking place in Bahrain markets to maintain Bahrain’s reputation in this field.