Qatar:

Qatar follows the International Classification of Goods and Services for the Registration of Marks under the Nice Agreement. Yet, classes 1, 4 to 7, 10 to 14, 16 to 22, 29, and 31 are not granted entirely under the trademark law. Products covered in class 33 and alcoholic drinks and beverages in class 32 are not registrable. The law has been amended so that a separate application should be filed concerning each class of goods or services.

The prints of a trademark originally in colors can be submitted in black and white but should specify the colors to be claimed.

Once a trademark application is filed, the trademark is examined as to form and substance, as Qatar follows the anteriority examination system. Accepted trademark applications are published in the Official Gazette of Trademarks. Any interested party may oppose the registration of a published trademark within four months from the publication date.

Opposition cases are referred to the civil court if not settled by the Registrar or if either party appeals the Registrar’s decision. A published trademark is registered without opposition, and the relative registration certificate will be issued.

Trademark registration is valid for ten years from the date of filing the application and renewable for further consecutive periods of 10 years each. A trademark registration renewal fee can be paid during the last 12 months of the current protection period. There is a 6-month grace period within which a late renewal application can be filed, but such a late renewal application is subject to the payment of additional fees. A separate application for the renewal of a trademark registration or any recordal is needed for each class of goods or services as far as trademarks are originally registered in more than one class.

The ownership of a registered trademark can be assigned with or without the goodwill of the business concern. Unless an assignment has been recorded in the register and published in the Official Gazette of Trademarks, it shall have no effect vis-à-vis third parties. Changes in the name and address of a registrant, amendments not substantially affecting the identity of the trademark and limitations of the list of goods or services covered by a trademark registration can also be recorded.

Using trademarks in Qatar is not compulsory for filing applications or maintaining trademark registrations in force. Any interested party may request the court to cancel a trademark registration if the owner fails to use such a trademark in Qatar within five consecutive years from the registration date. The cancellation action for non-use of a registered trademark cannot be accepted unless the trademark owner is given a one-month notice that his trademark is subject to cancellation for non-use.

Unauthorized use of a trademark registered under the law, an imitation of such a trademark applied on goods and used in respect of services of the same class, sale, storing for the purchase, exhibiting for sale of goods bearing a counterfeit mark, or using a mark duly registered under the law by another person to serve the purpose of unauthorized promotion of goods and services of the same class are offenses punishable under the law in Qatar.

Note: Trademark Law No. 9 of 2002 was issued on June 8, 2002, and published in the Official Gazette, but its Implementing Regulations have not yet been issued.

1. Full name and address and nationality of the applicant.

2. Power of attorney notarized and legalized up to the Qatar Consulate.

3. Scanned copy of the extract from the Commercial Register/business license/incorporation certificate. The applicant must be a company as it is impossible to register a trademark for an individual.

4. Trademark image.

5. List of goods/services to be covered by the application.

6. Certified copy of priority document if claimed (accepted within six months). It must be legalized up to Qatar Consulate.

The legalized POA is needed with the application filing. It is permissible to file trademark applications and obtain the filing particulars and copies of the evidentiary filing documents with the scanned copy of the legalized POA. However, the original required documents should be submitted within 60 days of the application filing date. There is no additional fee for the late filing of the original documents.

1. Power of attorney notarized and legalized up to the Qatar Consulate.

2. Scanned copy of trademark registration certificate.

• Filing System: Single class Filing system.
• Classification of goods/services: 11th Edition of Nice Classification.
• Registrable: trademarks, service marks, collective marks, 3D marks.
• The applicant must be a company as it is impossible to register a trademark for an individual.
• Claiming priority: Paris Convention within six months.
• Time from filing to registration certificate: 12:18 months.
• Trademark Search: available.
• Time required to complete the search: 07 days.
• Time from filing to receive renewal certificate: 3:6 months.
• Time from filing till receiving assignment certificate: 3:6 months.
• Examination type: substantive examination.
• Protection (registration) Duration: 10 years from the filing date.
• Use: a registered mark may be subject to a cancellation action by any interested party if it has not been used for five consecutive years.
• The renewal application can be made within 6 months before expiry.
• Renewal Duration: 10 years.
• Grace period to renew after expiration: 6 months with a penalty.
• Registration/renewal/assignment/change certificate: paper certificate.
• If there is no Qatar consulate in your country, the legalization can be made by any Arabic Consulate. Then, the super legalization of the document will be prepared locally in Qatar.