Trademarks are registered with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MOIC) through its Industrial Property e-Services site: service.moic.gov.bh/ipd.
Who can apply directly?
Citizens and residents of Bahrain who have a commercial or industrial business in Bahrain can apply themselves. Others apply through a law firm or an accredited industrial property agent in Bahrain. MOIC says the right to apply covers anyone with a business or industry in Bahrain or in a Paris Union member country (or a country with equal treatment under an agreement).
Key points
- A mark can be registered before it is used as well as when it is already in use.
- Registration lasts ten years and can be renewed every ten years.
- A registered mark lets you take legal action against anyone using the same or a similar mark on the same or similar goods or services.
- To object to someone else's mark that has been accepted for registration, the national portal lists a fee of 200 BD and a process time of 7 working days. Questions go to iponline@moic.gov.bh.
MOIC also publishes detailed guideline PDFs covering the e-portal, application requirements, classes of goods and services, oppositions and the register.
Steps
- Check that you can apply directly (Bahrain citizen or resident with a business), or appoint an accredited IP agent.
- Open service.moic.gov.bh/ipd and register on the Industrial Property e-Services portal.
- Submit the trademark application with the goods/services classes and pay the fee shown.
- Renew the registration every ten years.