Industrial Design Registration in the UAE
Industrial designs are protected in the UAE under Federal Law No 31 of the year 2006. Companies are allowed to perform industrial design registration in the UAE in line with the conditions and requirements specified in the Law. An industrial design in the UAE can be defined as any innovative three-dimensional shape that can be used in industry or craft. It can also be an innovative creation of lines or colours that generates a product with industrial application. Industrial registration consultants in the UAE can help companies easily register designs.
As per Article 44 of the Law, industrial designs in the UAE become eligible for protection only if it is registered in the related register kept at the Administration. The application for registering an industrial design in the UAE should be filed and examined in line with procedures and fees specified by the bylaws of the Federal Law No. 31 of the year 2006.
Permitted Number of Designs or Drawings for Registration
Article 45 of the Law states that the application for industrial registration in the UAE may include
More than just one industrial drawing or design. However, such designs or drawings should be interrelated in terms of manufacture and use. Furthermore, their total number should not exceed twenty drawings or designs.
Registrability of Industrial Designs in the UAE
Article 47 of the Law specifies the condition for granting protection for industrial designs in the UAE. It states that the industrial drawing or design must be new, innovative, and can be used as an industrial / handicraft product. The designs or drawings should not violate the public order or the morals of the UAE. Consult with industrial design agents in the UAE to assess the registration of designs or drawings.
The objective of Registering Industrial Designs in the UAE
In accordance with the Federal Law No 31 of the year 2006, registering industrial designs in the UAE grants applicants the right to prevent other parties from conducting the following activities:
- Using industrial design or drawing for manufacturing products
- Importing or acquiring any product related to the design to use or sell that product
Examination of a design application in the UAE
All industrial design applications in the UAE undergo a formal examination. However, the designs will not be subject to substantive scrutiny. Once the Patent Office issues a notification confirming a formal acceptance of the application, the applicants are required to settle the publication fees within the period stated in the notification (usually two months).
Granting the Industrial Design Registration in the UAE
The registration of an industrial design in the UAE is valid for ten years, counting from the filing date. The applicants are required to file an annual maintenance fee starting from the date of filing. Industrial design agents can assist applicants with more details about the registration procedure.
Brief Overview of the UAE Trademark Law
In the UAE, the Trademark Office work under the Ministry of Economy. Federal Law No. 8 for the year 2002 amended some articles of the Federal Law No. 37 for the year 1992. The law covers all seven Emirates of the United Arab Emirates i.e. Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain. The Registration Certificate of Trademark in UAE is valid for all 7 States. Although, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been a member of the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property since September 19, 1996, but still global trademark application under Madrid protocol not yet started although Bahrain and Oman have started.
Trademarks come under the broader spectrum of Intellectual Property (IP) rights but are different from patents and copyrights. Registration of patents offers protection to inventions, while copyright registration safeguards an original work of authorship.
Conditions & Requirements of UAE Industrial Design Registration
- English & Arabic are the official languages of the industrial design prosecution before the UAE Patent Office ( UAE industrial registration agents can help with the translations)
- The application should contain a request to grant a patent and two copies of the design ( for 2D) or two copies of each view ( for 3D)
- Applicants must file a certified copy of the Priority Document and its Arabic and English translations within 90 days from the filing date
- All applicants are required to submit an original Power of Attorney (PoA) within 90 days from the filing date. It should be legalised with the UAE Consulate.
- It is mandatory to submit a Deed of Assignment from the designer(s) to the applicant if the applicant is not the designer. It should be submitted within 90 days from the filing date and must be legalised with the UAE Consulate.
- If the applicant is a corporate entity, it is mandatory to submit a Certificate of Incorporation or Articles of Association within 90 days from the filing date. Legalisation up to the UAE Consulate is required.
- Applicants need to file an industrial design application claiming priority within six months from the priority date.
Hire the Best Industrial Design Registration Agents in the UAE
Foreign applicants are required to perform industrial design registration in the UAE through a representative. They can hire the best industrial design registration agents in Dubai, UAE, such as Jitendra Intellectual Property (JIP). JIP is a full services IP firm in Dubai with years of experience in protecting companies’ IP rights. JIP can provide design details to applicants. Our highly qualified IP experts will prepare and file the industrial design application with utmost dedication and efficiency. Avail of our industrial design registration services in the UAE to process the applications without any hassle.
