BH - Bahrain
Directorate of Foreign Trade & Industrial Property, National Patent Office (Bahrain)

Materials for the European Qualifying Examination (EQE)
Special edition as of 31 October 2024, prepared for EQE candidates

Useful information

The PCT Applicant’s Guide is updated almost every week with information received by the International Bureau.
In case of question, please contact the Office or the International Bureau: pct.guide@wipo.int.
List of abbreviations used in this document:
Office: Directorate of Foreign Trade & Industrial Property, National Patent Office (Bahrain)
List of currencies used in this document:
BHD (Bahraini dinar), USD (US dollar)
Countries and Offices information:
The list of acronyms used for Offices is no longer shown as it has been integrated in the mouseover functionality for each ST.3 code shown in this document.
Refer to List of WIPO Standards, Recommendations and Guidelines formerly Annex K, List of country names and two-letter codes. It includes a list of short names and two-letter codes accepted for use in indicating States, other entities and intergovernmental organizations and their Offices in documents relating to international applications under the PCT. The list is as set out in WIPO Standard ST.3.
Also refer to PCT Contracting States formerly Annex A.
Office profile
For more technical information about the Office, refer to ePCT Office profile.
PCT Reservations, Declarations, Notifications and Incompatibilities
Article 64(5)
Refer to the full list.
Office Closed dates
The Office is closed weekly on Friday and Saturday
Additional closed dates can be consulted on the Office Closed dates page

International Phase

Annex B - Information on Contracting States or Intergovernmental Organization

Contracting State:
Bahrain
Two-letter code:
BH
Bahrain - National Patent Office (Bahrain)
Name of Office:
Directorate of Foreign Trade & Industrial Property, National Patent Office (Bahrain)
Location:
Bahrain Financial Harbour
Manama
Kingdom of Bahrain
Mailing address:
P.O. Box 60667
Manama
Kingdom of Bahrain
Telephone:
(973) 17 57 48 96
(973) 17 57 49 23
(973) 17 57 47 69
E-mail:
ip@moic.gov.bh
Website:
Facsimile:
(973) 17 53 64 79
Does the Office accept the filing of documents by facsimile or the like means (PCT Rule 92.4)?
No
Would the Office accept evidence of mailing a document, in case of loss or delay, where a delivery service other than the postal authorities is used (PCT Rule 82.1)?
Yes, provided that the delivery service is:
Aramex, 
DHL, 
Federal Express, 
TNT
Is the Office prepared to allow applicants to make applications available to the WIPO Digital Access Service for Priority Documents (DAS) (PCT Rule 17.1(b-bis)?
No
Competent receiving Office(s) for international applications filed by nationals or residents of this State:
BH
Bahrain - National Patent Office (Bahrain)
, 
IB
International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) - International Bureau of WIPO
Does national legislation restrict the filing of international applications with foreign Offices?
Refer to the Office
Competent designated (or elected) Office(s) for this State:
Refer to corresponding National Phase.
BH
Bahrain - National Patent Office (Bahrain)
Types of protection available via the PCT:
Patents, 
Utility models (a utility model may be sought in addition to a national patent)
Payment methods accepted by the Office:
The Office accepts online payments using debit/credit cards
Availability under the national law for an international-type search (PCT Article 15):
None
Provisional protection after international publication:
None
Information of interest if this Contracting State is designated (or elected)
Time when the name and address of the inventor must be given:
May be in the request or may be furnished later. If not already complied with within the time limit applicable under PCT Article 22 or 39(1), the Office will invite the applicant to comply with the requirement within two months from the date of the invitation.
Are there special provisions concerning the deposit of microorganisms and other biological material?
No

Annex C - Receiving Office

Competent receiving Office for nationals and residents of:
Bahrain
Language in which international applications may be filed:
If the language in which the international application is filed is not accepted by the International Searching Authority (refer to Annex D), the applicant will have to furnish a translation (PCT Rule 12.3).
Arabic, 
English
Language in which the request may be filed:
Arabic, 
English
Number of copies required by the receiving Office if application filed on paper:
1
Does the receiving Office accept incorporation by reference (PCT Rule 20.6)?
Yes
Does the receiving Office accept the submission of color drawings on an informal basis and transmit them to the International Bureau?
Yes
Does the receiving Office accept requests for restoration of the right of priority (PCT Rule 26bis.3)?
Yes, 
the Office applies the “due care” criterion to such requests
Competent International Searching Authority:
AT
Austria - Austrian Patent Office
, 
EP
European Patent Organisation - European Patent Office (EPO)
, 
US
United States of America - United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
Competent International Preliminary Examining Authority:
AT
Austria - Austrian Patent Office
, 
EP
European Patent Organisation - European Patent Office (EPO)

The Office is competent only if the international search is or has been carried out by that Office or by the Austrian Patent Office., 
US
United States of America - United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)

The Office is competent only if the international search is or has been carried out by that Office.
Fees payable to the RO:
Transmittal fee:
70 BHD
International filing fee:
This fee is reduced by 90% if certain conditions apply (refer to Annex C(IB)).
1,457 USD
Fee per sheet in excess of 30:
This fee is reduced by 90% if certain conditions apply (refer to Annex C(IB)).
16 USD
Search fee:
Refer to
Annex D(AT)
Annex D(EP)
Annex D(US)
Fee for priority document (PCT Rule 17.1(b)):
— for natural persons
2 BHD
— for legal persons
4 BHD
Fee for requesting restoration of the right of priority (PCT Rule 26bis.3(d)):
None
Is an agent required by the receiving Office?
No, 
if the applicant resides in Bahrain

Yes, 
if the applicant is a non-resident
Who can act as agent?
Any attorney or lawyer registered to practice before the Office
Waiver of power of attorney:
Waivers of powers of attorney do not apply (PCT Rule 90.4(e) and 90.5(d)) where the agent or common representative submits any notice of withdrawal during the international phase (PCT Rule 90bis.1 to 90bis.4, also refer to International Phase, paragraph 11.048).
Has the Office waived the requirement that a separate power of attorney be submitted?
No
Particular instances in which a separate power of attorney is required:
Not applicable
Has the Office waived the requirement that a copy of a general power of attorney be submitted?
No
Particular instances in which a copy of a general power of attorney is required:
Not applicable

National Phase

Summary of requirements for entry into the national phase

Time limits applicable for entry into the national phase:
Under PCT Article 22(1): 30 months from the priority date
Under PCT Article 39(1)(a): 30 months from the priority date
Does the Office permit reinstatement of rights (PCT Rule 49.6)?
Yes, the Office permits reinstatement of rights under the “due care” criterion. There is no fee.
Translation of international application required into (one of) the following language(s):
Arabic, 
English
Required contents of the translation for entry into the national phase:
Under PCT Article 22: Request, description, claims (if amended, both as originally filed and as amended), any text matter of drawings, abstract
Under PCT Article 39(1): Request, description, claims, any text matter of drawings, abstract (if any of those parts has been amended, both as originally filed and as amended by the annexes to the international preliminary examination report)
Is a copy of the international application required in particular circumstances?
No
Does the Office accept color drawings under its national law?
Refer to the “Guidelines to Write Invention Description” at: https://www.moic.gov.bh/sites/default/files/2024-02/Guidelines%20to%20Write%20Invention%20Description.pdf.
Yes
National fees:
The amount in parentheses is payable in case of filing by an individual.
Patents
Filing fee
Must be furnished or paid within the time limit applicable under PCT Article 22 or 39(1).
540 BHD
(40 BHD)
2nd annual fee
200 BHD
(100 BHD)
Publication fee
320 BHD
(50 BHD)
Examination fee, including search
According to actual cost
Utility models
Filing fee
Must be furnished or paid within the time limit applicable under PCT Article 22 or 39(1).
270 BHD
(135 BHD)
Exemptions, reductions or refunds of fees:
None
Special requirements of the Office (PCT Rule 51bis):
If not already complied with within the time limit applicable under PCT Article 22 or 39(1), the Office will invite the applicant to comply with the requirement within a time limit of two months from the date of receipt of the invitation.
Name and address of the inventor if they have not been furnished in the “Request” part of the international application
This requirement may be satisfied if the corresponding declaration has been made in accordance with PCT Rule 4.17.
Statement justifying the applicant’s right to the patent where the applicant is not the inventor
This requirement may be satisfied if the corresponding declaration has been made in accordance with PCT Rule 4.17.
Document evidencing a change of name of the applicant if the change occurred after the international filing date and has not been reflected in a notification from the International Bureau (Form PCT/IB/306)
Appointment of an agent if the applicant is not a resident of Bahrain
An instrument appointing the agent (authorization or power of attorney) is required
Verification of translation of the international application
Furnishing, where applicable, of a nucleotide and/or amino acid sequence listing in electronic form
Who can act as agent?
Any attorney or lawyer registered to practice before the Office
Does the Office accept the effect of restoration of the right of priority by the receiving Office (PCT Rule 49ter.1)?
Yes
Does the Office accept requests for restoration of the right of priority (PCT Rule 49ter.2)?
Yes, 
the Office applies the “due care” criterion to such requests

The procedure in the national Phase

Information not yet available
Special edition as of 31 October 2024, prepared for EQE candidates printed on 21 Dec 2024
2.0 #63 - 2024-11-04T12:26:35.870+01:00