The Quick Guide to Register a Trademark in Qatar

Did you know that the value of Coca Cola Brand in 2018 was valued at close to 80 Billion U.S Dollars according to Statista, that’s a staggering number for a simple logo that represented a drink that was first produced in 1886. Brand matters, while a brand is not signage, words, names, symbols or logos, these things represent the brand and evoke emotions and affinity. Too often businesses do less to protect these elements. That’s where a trademark registration helps. Trademark is an identifiable sign, design or distinct mark in a product or service that represents a specific business or company in Qatar. This quick guide will offer you a quick snapshot of the process and how the authorities in Qatar enforce this within the state.

What’s the biggest benefit of registering your trademark in Qatar?

Registering your trademark in the state of Qatar with the Industrial Property Protection Office offers protection from the Ministry of Economy and Trade and the Trade Affairs Department in the Ministry protects and secures your trademark from abuse, illegal usage, violation through imitation, replication or modifying products or parts of the products, false promotion and prevents coercion or provocation of the trademark owner from other organizations.

The enforcement of the Trademark:

By registering your trademarks in the State of Qatar, they are enforced by law according to the Law no. 9 of 2002 pertaining to Trademarks, Commercial Indications, Trade Names, Geographical Indications, and Industrial Designs and Models.

The Industrial Property Protection Office records all registered trademarks in Qatar and their respective owners, assignment or transfer reports, license recipient data and assignment, renewal, removals, and withdrawals.

In line to the international or bilateral agreement and treaties, applicable in Qatar, the expats shall have the same rights that this Law guarantees for citizens of Qatar as long as they are citizens or residents of countries treating the citizens of Qatar and its residents on the same basis.

The following cannot be registered as a trademark:

The Trademark guidelines clearly layout that the following shall not be registered as a trademark or as part of a brand

1. Signs insolvent of any distinguishing character, or which are simply an explanation of the features of the products or services or which are only the normal designations given by usage to such products or services.

2. Any communication, design or symbol contrary to morals or public order

3. Public badges, flags and other signs and names or values relating to any state or international organisation, as well as an imitation, unless prior written consent is obtained from the state authority

4. Official symbols and stamps of any country or relating to its control or guarantee of goods and services, unless prior written consent is derived from the authority

5. Symbols, which are indistinguishable with or similar to the Red Cross or Red Crescent

6. Indications of honorary distinctions, which the applicant fails to prove that he is legally entitled

7. Signs which are confusingly identical or similar to earlier registered or filed by a third party for identical or similar goods or services or well-known signs if not registered or applied for registration in Qatar irrespective of the identification or similarity of the related products or services for which registration is sought

8. Signs likely to mislead the public or which contain false suggestions as to the origin or other features of the merchandises or services, as well as signs that might create confusion for holding an untrue, counterfeit or forged commercial indication or trade name

9. Symbols identical or similar to religious symbols

The process of registering your trademark in Qatar

1. The application for registration of a mark shall be filed with the Office on the form prepared for this purpose, upon payment of the prescribed fees, our PRO services help you with that.

2. A single application for registration of a group of marks may be filed upon payment of the prescribed fees if there is more than one mark that needs to be registered.

3. In line to the provisions of international or bilateral agreements and treaties valid in Qatar, if the applicant is not domiciled in Qatar or does not have a real and actual domicile therein, he shall apply for registration through an agent domiciled in Qatar provided that a legalised power of attorney accompanies the application. Our PRO offering can help you with the processing.

Finally, the owner of the trademark, upon registration, shall receive a certificate from the Trade Mark Registry that contains the following particulars

1. The serial number of the trademark

2. The filing date of the application, the date of registration, the date of priority, if any, and the name of the State wherein the corresponding application was filed on the basis of which the applicant claims the priority rights

3. Trade name or particulars of the owner of the trademark

4. The specimen of the trademark

5. A list of the goods or services for which the trademark is registered and the class or classes to which they belong

The term of the protection of a trademark shall be ten years from the date of filing of the application for registration.

Call us at +974 40 120 333 or reach us at info@bbms.qa to schedule a no-obligation call to get help and consultation with our helpful experts for registering your trademark.