Trademark Registration in Bahrain

In Bahrain, trademark registration is mandatory to obtain rights over a trademark, as it is a “first-to-file” jurisdiction. Except for some exceptional situations, unregistered trademarks are not protected.

Trademark applications must be filed with the Directorate of Industrial Property of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of Bahrain, also known as MOIC.

Trademarks can only be registered in the name of a company, not an individual.

Bahrain is also a member state to the Madrid Protocol, meaning that protection in Bahrain can be obtained by extending an international registration through the Madrid System. We offer trademark filing through the Madrid System.

Prior use of a trademark is not required for registration, but it may help overcome objections based on lack of distinctiveness by proving that the mark has acquired distinctiveness through use.

If you register a combined trademark (word + figurative elements) in Bahrain, your exclusive right is limited to the exact configuration in which the mark is filed and registered. If you wish to use the word and logo separately, it is advisable to file additional applications covering each element on its own.

To register a trademark in Bahrain, you will generally need:

• Original Power of Attorney, duly signed, notarized, and legalized by Apostille or before the Consulate of Bahrain, as well as a copy of the Commercial Certificate of the applicant with a translation into the official language.
• The name or logo you want to register
• The applicant’s details

Your iGERENT consultant will confirm the exact requirements for your case and guide you through each step.

The average application process in Bahrain takes approximately 5 months. This is an estimated timeframe for straightforward cases based on current processing times and may vary depending on the circumstances of each application.

Once a trademark is successfully registered in Bahrain:

• Registered trademarks are valid for 10 years from the application date.
• They can be renewed indefinitely for further periods of ten (10) years.
• Renewal can be requested as early as twelve (12) months before the expiration date.
• There is a grace period of six (6) months after expiration, during which renewal is still possible upon payment of a late renewal fee.
• A final fee for registration is payable only in case of successful registration (per class, as indicated in the fee schedule).

Yes. If a third party attempts to register or use a trademark for similar goods or services that includes a primary or distinctive part of your trademark, you may oppose the application based on confusing similarity.

Opposition actions may be filed by third parties within sixty (60) days from the date the application is published in the official gazette. The chances of success for an opposition will vary in each case depending on the circumstances and evidence presented.

A trademark does not have to be in use to be registered in Bahrain.

However, if the trademark is not used for periods of five (5) years, it becomes vulnerable to cancellation actions based on lack of use. The granting of a license of use to another party may be considered as valid use of the trademark for these purposes.