To file a patent in Qatar, the process must be conducted through the Qatar Industrial Property Office (QIPO), which is responsible for managing intellectual property registration applications in Qatar.
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What is a patent in Qatar?
A patent in Qatar is an exclusive title and right granted by the RPI to all inventions. This patent gives the right to prevent anyone from copying, using, distributing, or selling the invention without permission. The duration of an invention patent is 20 years.
How to file a patent in Qatar?
In Qatar, the official language for patent filing is Arabic, and patent applications must be submitted in Arabic. Filing a patent application in a foreign language is generally not possible.
Also, you may need to file a trademark in Qatar.
What are the required documents needed to file a patent in Qatar?
- Full name and address of the applicant and inventors, whether an individual or a corporation.
- A patent description: Specification, claims, and abstract. Drawings, if applicable.
- Power of Attorney, signed by the applicant or an authorized officer of the applicant company, must be legalized up to the Qatari Consulate in the country of execution; finally, it must be authenticated by the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Qatar. This super legalization ensures the documents meet necessary legal standards. POAs are now valid for only three years.
- Sworn Translation: A sworn translation must be provided along with the POA from an accredited translation office.
- Translations (if necessary): The official language for patent filing in Qatar is Arabic. If your application documents are in a language other than Arabic, you may need to provide Arabic translations of the application documents.
- Assignment Documents from the inventors.
- Certified copy of the Priority Application. Not necessary for PCT cases.
How is the Patent process in Qatar?
- Application submission: The procedure can be initiated by submitting the form and the complete documentation of the patent application.
- Formal Examination: The Qatar Industrial Property Office will conduct a formal examination of the patent application to check for completeness and compliance with the requirements. If there are any deficiencies, you will be notified to address them within a specified time frame.
- Publication: After the formal examination and if the application is found to be in order, the patent application is published in the Qatary Official Gazette. This publication serves to notify the public about the existence of the patent application. Oppositions and observations are available for third parties within the first 90 days of publication.
- Substantive Examination: The Qatar Industrial Property Office conducts a substantive examination to assess the patentability of the invention, including its novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability.
- Grant: If the invention is found to meet all patentability requirements and the examination process is successfully completed, the Qatar Industrial Property Office will grant the patent. You will receive a certificate of patent registration.
Patent term:
20 years from the date of filing of the application.
Average time from filing to grant:
The average time from filing to granting a patent in Qatar is from 3 to 5 years.
Grant, validity term and maintenance fees
Once the patent in Qatar is granted, it will be valid for a period of 20 years. Maintenance Fees are paid annually and they are calculated from the international filing date.
The first annuity Fee should be paid on or before the 2nd Anniversary of the international PCT filing date (or national filing date if it is a Paris convention application). That is to say, it should be paid before starting the 3rd year.
Subsequent renewal fees should be paid annually in advance, before each anniversary of the filing date.
Some Extra Facts
Representation by a patent attorney
Foreign patent applicants need to prosecute a patent application in Qatar through an attorney or agent registered in the country.
Check out our blog for more information in Intellectual Property.
Do you need to file a Patent in another country?
This content may suffer modifications due to updates in the official regulations of Qatar.
