In 1971 Bahrain gained its independence from the United Kingdom and was officially named the State of Bahrain. The State of Bahrain became a member of the United Nations and the Arab League shortly afterwards. On 29 October 1996, Bahrain became a member of the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Trademarks, patents and designs have been accepted for registration since 1955 in accordance with the Bahraini Patent, Designs and Trademarks Law of 1955. Initially, this law only allowed registrations for those trademarks, patents and designs which had been registered in the United Kingdom. Thus, non-British owners who had no interests in the UK markets were forced to register their trademarks, patents and designs in the United Kingdom in order to protect their interests in Bahrain.

The said Law was amended by Decree Law No. 22 of 1977, that allowed the registration of trademarks, patents and designs, if the applicant could submit a corresponding certificate of registration from a foreign country.

On 16 August 1984, a new Trade Mark Ordinance was published in the Official Gazette No. 1604. This decree makes it possible to file a trade/service mark application in Bahrain without submitting a corresponding foreign registration certificate. Instead a photocopy of the company's home commercial registration certificate issued by the Registrar of Companies and duly legalised by the Bahraini Embassy or any other Arab Embassy is sufficient and can be used for numerous future applications.

On 26 September 1991, a new Trademark Law was issued by legislative Decree No. 10, of 1991. The new Trademark Law was published in the Official Gazette No. 1961, of June 1991. The said Law follows an international classification of goods and protection of servicemarks in Classes 35 to 42.

Under the Bahraini Trademark Law, the period of registration for a trademark is ten years, renewable for similar periods and not five years as promulgated by Decree Law No. 22, of 1977.

LAWS

Trade Marks:

Decree No. 10, June 1991.

Draft Law on Trademarks, not yet in force.

Patents:

“Law on Patents, Designs and Trademarks, July 1955” - Decree No. 22, September 1977

Law No. 1 of 2004 on Patents and Utility Models

Copyright:

Decree No. 10, June 1991

Draft Law on Copyright and Neighboring Rights, not yet in force

Utility Models:

“Law on Patents, Designs and Trademarks, July 1955” - Decree No. 22, September 1977

Law No. 1 of 2004 on Patents and Utility Models

Layout Designs

“Law on Patents, Designs and Trademarks, July 1955” - Decree No. 22, September 1977

Law No. 1 of 2004 on Patents and Utility Models

FILING REQUIREMENTS IN BAHRAIN

A - TRADE/SERVICE MARK REGISTRATION

1. An Authorisation of Agent Form, simply signed by the trademark applicant.
2. * A certified copy of the home or foreign registration of the concerned trademark. Moreover, the Trade Mark Registrar in Bahrain will accept any one of the following documents, provided that the specification of goods and the applicant's activity is clearly stated on it:
   
   
   • A Certificate of Incorporation of the applicant company.
   • A certificate issued by the Registrar of Companies.
   • An extract of the entry of the applicant company in the Commercial registry.
   • A certificate issued by the Chamber of Commerce.
     * (The aforementioned documents in point 2, should be duly legalised by the Bahraini Embassy or any other Arab Embassy in the country of the applicant. English translations should be provided where the documents are issued in a language other than English or Arabic).
      
3. Twelve prints of the trademark identical to the one affixed on the application for registration.
4. A clear statement of the goods to be covered and colours to be protected by the trademark. (The initial registration period in Bahrain for trade/service mark is ten years, renewable for similar periods).
   

B - PATENT REGISTRATION

1. An Authorisation of Agent form, signed by the applicant.
2. A certificate of registration accompanied with a copy of the letters of patent, patent specifications and drawings, sealed and signed by the Registrar. All documents should be translated into Arabic.
   The initial period granted for a patent in Bahrain is 15 years from the date of registration.

C - DESIGN REGISTRATION

1. An Authorisation of Agent form, simply signed by the applicant.
2. A certified copy of the home or foreign registration, sealed and signed by the applicant.
3. Three copies of each drawing of the design.

D - RECORDAL OF RENEWAL

1. An Authorisation of Agent form, simply signed by the applicant.
2. Form No. 2, completed and signed by the agent on behalf of the applicant.

E - RECORDAL OF AN ASSIGNMENT

1. An Authorisation of Agent form, simply signed by the Assignee.
2. A Deed of Assignment form, signed by both the Assignor and the Assignee.

F - RECORDAL OF CHANGE OF NAME/ADDRESS

1. A letter signed by the registered owner on the company's letterhead addressed to the Registrar, Trade Mark Directorate of Commerce and Company's Affairs, Ministry of Commerce, State of Bahrain.

G - RECORDAL OF REGISTERED USER

1. An Authorisation of Agent form, simply signed by the Registered User.
2. An Agreement of Registered User, together with the Declaration and the State of Case, signed by the owners.
3. A statement from the Notary Public witnessing the signature and the sealing of the agreement

H - RECORDAL OF MERGER

1. An Authorisation of Agent, simply signed by the applicant.
2. A certified copy of the merger document.