PATENTS
Yemen Patent Overview

Patents are ruled by the law Patents, Utility Models, Integrated Circuits, and Trade Secrets from 2011.

Patent Requirements

A power of attorney

A deed of assignment from the inventor

A certified copy of  the  corresponding patent application or registration

A certified of incorporation or extract from the commercial register

Certified copy of priority document if claimed

Documents must be submitted in Arabic and English.

Registration Process

Once a patent application if filed, the Registrar examines the content and notifies the applicant of receiving the application within 10 days. A relevant notice is published in the official Gazette. In the absence of opposition, the certified of registration will be issued.

Duration

Patents are granted for 15 years. Annuities are paid on the anniversary of the filing date of the application.

TRADEMARKS

Yemen Trademark Overview

Yemen is part of the WIPO. A new Law No. 23 of 2010 related to Trademarks and Geographical Indications has been issued in Yemen along with its Implementing Regulations. The new law has included the following points:

Registration Process

Once a trademark application is filed at the Trademark Office, it is examined as to its registrability. Accepted trademark applications are to be published in the Official Trade Gazette (Al-Tijarah). There is a 90 days period starting from the publication date open for filing an opposition to the registration of a trademark by any interested party. The notice of opposition should be submitted to the Registrar within the legal term. The opposition case is referred to the court, if not settled before the Registrar, or if either party appeals the Registrar's decision. However, in the absence of opposition, or if the opposition is rejected, the mark is processed to registration and the registration certificate will be issued.

Duration

The validity of a trademark registration is for 10 years as of the date of filing the application renewable for similar periods of 10 years each. The renewal application should be submitted within the last year of the current validity term. The trademark law provides for a one year period for late renewal of a trademark, but such renewal application is subjected to the payment of a lateness fine.