Summary of the guide:
- Laws relating to Trademark in Bahrain
- Trademark registration process in Bahrain
- How long does it take to get a trademark registration in Bahrain?
- Examination criteria for trademarks in Bahrain
- Costs for trademark registration in Bahrain
- How long is a trademark protected for?
- When does the protection of a trademark in Bahrain start?
- What trademark classes are available in Bahrain?
- What are the documents required for trademark protection in Bahrain?
- What are important deadlines for trademark protection in Bahrain?
- Are international trademarks available in Bahrain?
- National Vs International trademark in Bahrain?
- Local tips for trademark registration in Bahrain
- Service level guarantee for trademark registration in Bahrain
Laws relating to Trademark in Bahrain
In Bahrain, the law relating to trademarks is governed by the GCC trademark law which was ratified in Bahrain by Law No. 6 of 2014 on Approval of the Trademarks Law of the Gulf Cooperation Council States (Gulf Cooperation Council). This law sets out the rules and procedures for registering and protecting trademarks in Bahrain.
Trademark registration process in Bahrain
A smooth trademark registration generally passes through three phases:
Filing – you file the trademark at the TM department.
Publication – if the mark is accepted and not rejected, it will be published for 90 days (opposition period).
Registration – after the opposition/publication period ends, you can pay the final registration fees and receive your trademark certificate.
How long does it take to get a trademark registration in Bahrain?
It takes 6 months to receive a trademark registration certificate.
Examination criteria for trademarks in Bahrain
The examination criteria are both on absolute grounds and relative grounds:
Absolute grounds for trademark refusals in Bahrain are:
- Trademarks that are devoid of any distinctive character.
- Trademarks exclusively consist of signs regularly used in trade, to refer to a type, kind, quality, quantity, intended purpose, value, geographical origin, or other characteristics relating to the goods or service the trademark is registered on.
- Trademarks which exclusively consist of signs or indications that are used in the normal course of the trade.
- Trademarks that are contrary to public policy.
- Trademarks that are contrary to public morals and ethics.
- Trademarks that deceive the public, as to the nature, quality, or source of the goods or services.
- Trademarks which include public emblems, flags, and other symbols relating to the state, Arab, or international organizations, or one of their institutions, or a foreign state unless so authorized by it, as well as any imitation of such emblems, flags, or symbols.
- Trademarks include symbols of the Red Crescent or Red Cross and other similar imitating symbols.
- Trademarks that are similar to or resemble symbols of a purely religious character.
- Trademarks are geographical names whose protection or use create confusion as to the origin or source of the goods, the products, or the services.
- Trademarks are essentially the name, surname, picture, or emblem of a third party unless prior approval is provided.
- Trademarks which are indications of honorary distinctions that the applicant for registration cannot prove.
Relative grounds for trademark refusals - assess whether a trademark application filed in Bahrain may confuse due to the similarity with a previously registered or famous trademark locally.
Costs for trademark registration in Bahrain
Costs relating to trademark registration are both official and professional. Official fees are fees paid to the government for processing your trademark registration and are required to be paid for each phase of the process.
Professional fees for trademark registration
Our professional fees range from USD160 to USD299 depending on the package you choose. Once you are ready to start, choose the package you want and you will see the total official fees and professional fees for each package.
Official fees for trademark registration
In Bahrain the total official fee for trademark registration is USD1793.
How long is a trademark protected for?
A trademark is valid for 10 years from the filing date.
When does the protection of a trademark in Bahrain start?
Trademark registration is valid for 10 years calculated from the filing date. To maintain protection after 10 years, a brand owner should renew the trademark by filing a renewal application.
What trademark classes are available in Bahrain?
A trademark owner who is usually referred to as an applicant has to file a trademark on each class required since Bahrain is not a multi-class system. Each class is considered a different trademark. An applicant can protect a trademark on all 45 classes. Every trademark is registered on a specific list of goods (products or services). In Bahrain, there is no limitation on the number of classes you can register your trademark on.
What are the documents required for trademark protection in Bahrain?
A Power of Attorney
- If you are a resident or a national of Bahrain, then the power of attorney should be notarized.
- If you are not a resident nor a national of Bahrain, then the power of attorney should be apostilled or legalized.
Trade License / Commercial Certificate / Certificate of Good Standing:
- If you are a resident or a national of Bahrain, then a copy of the trade license is sufficient.
- If you are not a resident nor a national of Bahrain, then the trade license should be apostilled.
What are important deadlines for trademark protection in Bahrain?
To protect your trademark in Bahrain you will need a Power of Attorney and a Trade License. The documents can be submitted 60 days after filing.
Are international trademarks available in Bahrain?
An international application can designate Bahrain.
If you want to register your trademark internationally and target specific countries, you can designate Bahrain through an international application, which you will have to go through a trademark registration process in Bahrain.
National Vs International trademark in Bahrain?
Benefits from designating Bahrain (BH) as part of an international application:
- International application does not require an apostille POA unless a rejection is issued (so it is cheaper in terms of legalization costs.
- International applications take longer to examine.
Benefits from filing a national application in Bahrain (BH):
- National applications are much quicker to prosecute and receive the certificate of registration.
- National application fees are phased out by phase, and not paid upfront, so if a trademark is rejected, the official fees paid are simply the filing fees. Not the registration fees which are much more expensive than filing.
Local tips for trademark registration in Bahrain
When filing a trademark application in Bahrain, it is important to provide accurate and complete information about the trademark, including the applicant's name and address, a clear representation of the trademark, and the goods or services for which the trademark will be used.
Service level guarantee for trademark registration in Bahrain
If you require approval from management, you can print this page and obtain approvals. Remember to choose the package you want. If you are not a lawyer, we recommend you choose the premium package. We have individually vetted and certified all trademark agents, and have provided them with a proprietary system owned by Easy Trademarks to guarantee the level of service you will receive.
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