Intellectual Property news from the Miiddle East, Indian Sub-Continent and Africa
MEISCA Intellectual Property Express Issue 63 - October 2007 - Gaza Suspension at Trade Mark Office - GCC Update on GCC Unified Trade Mark Law - India Bombay stock exchange (BSE) secures trade mark rights in its indices - Lebanon User generated content – Lebanon case study Trade mark classification in Lebanon - Libya Patent applications in Libya - Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia to reform judicial system Trade Mark Office to close for Hajj - United Arab Emirates Law against commercial concealment in the UAE comes into effect Ras Al Khaimah to allow 100% foreign ownership Trade mark recordals with Sharjah Customs -Yemen Patent applications in Yemen
MEISCA Intellectual Property Express Issue 62 - September 2007 - '.asia' Sunrise Period opens - Egypt conference on cyber crime - India Trade Mark Registry cancels the Chartered Financial Analyst Institute’s registration - Mars Inc. protects its rights in the BOUNTY trade dress and label mark in India - Strict deadlines for opposition proceedings in India - Oman to become member of Madrid Protocol - New border measures for Qatar - New website for '.ae' - UAE e-governance project - Estimated 12 million Dubai Customs’ transactions by 2010
MEISCA Intellectual Property Express Issue 61 - August, 2007 - Bahrain Free Zone to launch in 2008 - Bahrain trade mark opposition decision - Indian Court clarifies jurisdictional issues in copyright infringement cases - Iraqi Trade Mark Office - Amendments to Trade Mark Law in Tunisia - UAE ranking in Arab Competitiveness Report - Dubai Economic Department issues 7,103 trade licences during the first half of 2007 - UAE Laws to Be Published in English - Grace period at Yemeni trade marks office
MEISCA Intellectual Property Express Issue 60 - July 2007 - GCC GCC Customs meeting - India High Court rejects challenge to constitutionality of provisions of the Patent Law Significance of web to determine jurisdiction for domain name disputes - Jordan Development of Jordan judiciary - Middle East US considers economic sanctions for failures to enforce IPR - Oman Oman to implement international treaties - Qatar Border measures to block counterfeit goods - Saudi Arabia Arab Consumer and Brand Protection Forum launched - United Arab Emirates Counterfeit electronic goods Fake medicines seized
MEISCA Intellectual Property Express Issue 59 - June 2007 - Bahrain accepts applications claiming priority for trade marks and designs -The Hilton International Group wins damages against a Kerala hotel group - The Mumbai High Court refuses to grant injunction on basis of prior use - Oman ratifies international treaties - Free trade negotiations between US and UAE stalled - DDED launches 'SME Feasibility Study' training programme for small business owners - Illegal consumer goods destroyed - Pirated software CDs swized - GCC Customs to meet - Ras Al-Khaimah Free Zone receives Code of Ethics Award - Research presented to Dubai Economic Research Award
MEISCA Intellectual Property Express Issue 58 - May 2007 - New Courts in Bahrain - Cancellation action in Iran - Piracy in Lebanon - Nigeria Information Technology Agreement - UAE joins Information Technology Agreement - UAE Competition Law - Colour marks accepted by UAE Trade Marks Office - Statistics on counterfeit goods in Europe sourced from UAE
MEISCA Intellectual Property Express Issue 57 - April 2007 - Jordan: Fight against counterfeit cosmetic products - India: Volvo obtains favourable Orders/Court stops infringing NESTLE trade mark packaging/Google recovers 'gmail' domain name - Middle East: Piracy levels/IIPA recommendations/IIPA copyright priorities - Nigeria: Amendment of proposed service mark classification - Syria: New trade mark law - UAE: Fines for counterfeit goods could soon treble in Dubai/DIFC Courts inaugurated/copyright and patents now under Ministry of Economy
MEISCA Intellectual Property Express Issue 56 - March 2007 - WIPO and Egyptian Institute for Diplomatic Studies sign MoU - GCC unified Trade Mark Law - Shell obtains Orders from the Delhi High Court - Court restrains use of FORD mark - Indian Government approved accession to Madrid Protocol - Service Marks now registerable in Nigeria - Speeding up registration process - New Trade Mark Law in Syria - Copyright conference in Al Ain - Counterfeit goods destroyed - Experts to assist in rights violations case against MBC
MEISCA Intellectual Property Express Issue 55 - February 2007 - Cameroon: Cameroon signs Trade Mark Law Treaty - GCC: Possible conclusion of FTA deal between EU and GCC - India: Opposition to Patent Law plans/GlaxoSmithKline enforces rights in the BETNOVATE mark/Nestle obtains Orders in favour of its trade mark and logo - Iran: Confusion where ROYALS used for tobacco - United Arab Emirates: Admissibility of electronic records in evidence/Trade Mark Office adopts the 9th Edition of the Nice Classification for Trade Marks/Trade Mark Office accepts colour mark?/Patent Office and Trade Mark Office come together/EU Trade Commissioner meeting with UAE Minister of Economy/Jebel Ali port eighth largest in the world/UAE makes progress in trade talks with US/Liberalisation of UAE Commercial Agency laws - Yemen: Accession to the Paris Convention
MEISCA Intellectual Property Express Issue 54 - January 2007 - Bahrain Accession to Trade Mark Law Treaty and Patent Cooperation Treaty - Botswana Accession to the Madrid System - Egypt Scotch Whisky Association successfully opposes SCOTTS WHISKY & design applications WIPO conference on copyright and development - GCC GCC new requirements for patent applications - India Canon obtains Court Orders Delhi High Court recognises Intel’s goodwill and reputation - Lebanon Destruction of 150,000 pirated CDs - United Arab Emirates Data Protection Law issued by the DIFC WIPO decides first '.ae' ispute New UAE Commercial Companies Law soon UK and UAE to cooperate over VAT fraud Possible new courts in Sharjah
MEISCA Intellectual Property Express Issue 53 - December 2006 - India GSK obtains orders from the Delhi High Court Shell enforces rights in India Delhi High Court stops copying of a website and source code - Jordan BSA presents award to Director General of National Library - Middle East UK Passing off action for goods sold in the Middle East - Morocco HARRY POTTER for confectionary is confusingly similar - Saudi Arabia Media pirates adopt Amazon.com strategy - United Arab Emirates Trade mark recordation with Customs Dubai Customs suspects pirated DVDs made in the UAE Keeping ahead Hefty fines planned to tackle counterfeit issue Draft Rules of Court issued by DIFC for public consultation Organisers of Sharjah Book Fair remove pirate copies
MEISCA Intellectual Property Express Issue 51 - October, 2006 - India Delhi High Court issues directions to Customs in a trade mark infringement case Parke-Davis protects the trade mark 'CAPSUGEL' - Kuwait Training initiatives introduced to combat software piracy - Lebanon Software pirates back in Lebanon - United Arab Emirates Brand Owners’ Protection Group holds quarterly meeting New complaints system for counterfeit auto spare parts Fake accessories trade is high in Dubai Consumer Protection Law
MEISCA Intellectual Property Express Issue 50 - July 2006 - Bahrain issues new Intellectual Property Laws. - New trade mark law. - Mars enforces rights. - Court protects Nestlé ‘MAGGI’ brand. - Rejection of trade mark application for imitation. - Publication of trade marks resumed by Iraq Trade Mark Office. - Morocco Court rules on famous trade marks. - New Patent Law in Qatar. - New electronic crimes law. - New draft Intellectual Property law introduced. - Decision on likelihood of confusion. - UAE change in weekends.
MEISCA Intellectual Property Express: Issue 49 - June 2006 - Copyright penalties strengthened - Raids on computer pirates - Court awards significant costs for causing delay - Computer store in Amman raided for illegal software - Jordanian Customs sign MOU with Johnson & Johnson - Government steps up campaign against software piracy - Saudi Arabia target for fake goods - Brand appeal - Commercial agencies law amended - Copyright collectives coming soon - Customs get sharper teeth - End of Karama? - Same… but different - Small groceries become haven for counterfeit pharmaceuticals - UAE takes steps to further criminalise counterfeit trade
MEISCA Intellectual Property Express Issue 48 - May 2006 - New Integrated Circuits and Industrial Designs Law issued - New patent rules - WIPO pledges support for Morocco - New Intellectual Property Committee formed - Buying fake products may break the law - Commercial fraud damages GCC economies - Consumers can approach the Dubai Municipality over counterfeit products - Counterfeit AIDS drugs seized - Counterfeit CHANEL perfumes from Russia - Counterfeit VIAGRA tops the list - Dubai traders face increased penalties - Harrods enforces trade marks in Dubai - Major brand owners unite - Sharjah crackdown - UAE has lowest rate software piracy - Umm Al Quwain takes action
MEISCA Intellectual Property Express Issue 47 - April 2006 - Glaxo succeeds in SEROTIDE litigation - Court stops Amul from using Mother Dairy - Intellectual Property National Awareness Campaign continues - Football increases trade mark registrations - Piracy Task Force established in UAE - Re-thinking foreign ownership rules - Commercial Agencies Law to be amended - Saga successfully asserts famous trade mark
MEISCA Intellectual Property Express Issue 46 - March 2006 - Order issued by Delhi High Court to transfer domain names - Hero Honda obtains favorable orders - High levels of software piracy - Ministry of Economy to oversee intellectual property activities - Illegal TV satellite supplier jailed - Ministry of Information and Police may take action against illegal file sharing - British American Tobacco (BAT) memorandum of understanding with Tax Authority
MEISCA Intellectual Property Express Issue 45 - February 2006 - Calls for effective copyright policies - Gulf Franchise Expo to be held in Manama - Casio enforces rights against counterfeiter - Delhi High Court upholds GSK’s rights in the CROCIN mark - First annual exhibition for Jordanian inventors - National Library undertakes large confiscation of pirated material - New Decree concerning intellectual property rights - The Palestine National Internet Naming Authority (PNINA) encourage .PS domain registrations - Local agent wins parallel import case - New Commercial Law to facilitate foreign ownership of businesses - New Cyber law - UAE Patent Office starts granting Letters Patent - Rouse & Co. International Dubai Office nominated for Managing Intellectual Property Award
MEISCA Intellectual Property Express Issue 44 - 01 January 2006 - Amendments to the Trade Mark Law - Delhi High Court upholds design rights of Reckitt Benckiser - Court prohibits deep linking - New procedures for trade mark registration - Infringers of intellectual property rights will be imprisoned - New intellectual property law under review - Harrods v Harrods - Ban on advertisements concerning counterfeit goods - Groceries in Ras Al Khaimah fined for selling fake goods - Fees increased for document legalization and attestation
MEISCA Intellectual Property express Issue 43 - 01 December 2005 - Delhi High Court orders in favour of Honda - Oxford University Press wins case against a publishing house - Accession to Libson Agreement - Changes in filing requirements for trade mark applications - Accepting patent applications in Oman - Intellectual Property Unit’s plans for a surveillance programme for fake products - The Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah cuts court costs - Ministry raids for fake herbals
MEISCA Intellectual Property express: Issue 42 - 01 November 2005 - Accession to WIPO Convention - Institute established to train judges - Minimum trade mark filing requirements revised - Delhi High Court restrains Jagatjit Industries from using the ‘Blenders Pride’ brand name - Accession to the Berne Convention - Saudi Arabia enters World Trade Organization (WTO) - Ratification of the Berne Convention - Boycott declaration no longer required - Action against satellite piracy - Nokia's claim rejected by the Court of Cassation
MEISCA Intellectual Property express Issue 41 - 01 October 2005 - Egypt to establish new Intellectual Property training center - Delhi High Court restrains airing of MORTEIN advertisement - Iraqi Ministry of Industry and Minerals allocates new opposition period - WCT and WPPT enter into force - Software company raided in Dubai - Council approves new organizational structure of Dubai Courts
MEISCA Intellectual Property express Issue 40 - 01 September 2005 - Accession to various international treaties - Delhi High Court stops copying of music for ring tones - Have you registered your trade marks in the Aqaba Special Economic Zone? - Revised filing requirements - PCT enters into force with respect to Libya - Review of Copyright Law - WTO membership expected - Accession to Rome Convention - United Arab Emirates - Enforcement action
MEISCA Intellectual Property express Issue 39 - 01 August 2005 - Trade Mark Registry adopts new policies - Can a copyright society deny broadcasting rights? - Trade Mark filing to resume - Control of ‘.iq’ handed over - LG Electronics announce anti counterfeiting campaign in Middle East and Africa - New Intellectual Property Laws - Enforcement action in Saudi Arabia - Syrian curbing efforts - Gieschen Consultancy report on regional Intellectual Property violations
MEISCA Intellectual Property express Issue 38 - 01 July 2005 - New consumer law in Algeria - UPOV enters into force - New Intellectual Property laws approved - Six year jail term for copyright infringement - Lebanese Ministry of Economy and Trade cracks down on software piracy - Increase in official fees - New commercial courts - Grace period for patents - Amendments to the Merchandise Marks Act 1963 - UAE one of top ten countries for Intellectual Property violations - Al Ain authorities take action against IPR violators - Made in the UAE
MEISCA Intellectual Property express Issue 37 - 01 June 2005 - Acceptance of trade mark applications in classes 42-45 - Nice Agreement enters into force. - Delhi High Court confirms the ex-parte interim injunction for Cambridge University Press (“Cambridge”) - Arab Centre for Mediation and Arbitration launched - Accession to Patent Co-operation Treaty (PCT) - Piracy in Morocco - Accession to the WIPO Copyright Treaty and Performances and Phonograms Treaty - Massive seizure at Jebel Ali Port - UAE trade mark laws revised
MEISCA Intellectual Property express Issue 36 - 01 May 2005 - Delhi High Court passes Orders for Cisco and directs Customs to be vigilant - Delhi High Court awards punitive and compensatory damages to Time Inc. - Activities of Trade Mark Section suspended - Qatar determined to root out piracy - Software piracy rates in the Middle East - Local companies contest use of Harrods - Department of Economic Development (DED) plans tougher measures for counterfeiters - New Intellectual Property Unit at Customs - New law on cyber crime expected
MEISCA Intellectual Property express Issue 35 - 01 April 2005 - Delhi High Court restrains use of JUST ORANGE brand namee - Delhi High Court awards damages to Microsoft in a trade mark and copyright infringement case * Intellectual Property Office at Kuwait University * Crack down on pirate material * New border measure regulations * Judicial split * Counterfeit car parts seized * Sharjah raid on software pirates - Trade Mark Registers in the West Bank and Gaza to be unified
