Bahrain’s Intellectual Property Office has reported that its IP portal, previously disrupted by a technical failure, is now fully restored. The authority has also clarified that late filings caused by the service interruption will not attract late fees and should not prejudice core deadlines such as priority claims; affected users should now complete any pending steps through the online system as soon as possible.The practical message is reassuring but not a reason to slow down. The temporary allowance to submit certified legal documents, including powers of attorney, within three months...
WIPO’s March 2026 PCT Newsletter highlighted a cluster of procedural developments that deserve close practical attention. Beyond the extension of certain PCT-PPH pilots, three updates stand out for their operational impact: the Patent and Trademark Office of San Marino will become both a depositing and an accessing Office of the WIPO Digital Access Service (DAS) from 1 May 2026; the National Patent Office of Bahrain will begin receiving and processing international applications in electronic form via ePCT-Filing from 1 October 2026; and the Indonesian Culture Collection (InaCC), under...
WIPO records show that Bahrain acceded to the Locarno Agreement Establishing an International Classification for Industrial Designs on 29 July 2026, with the treaty entering into force for Bahrain on 29 October 2026. The move follows the United Arab Emirates, which acceded on 6 July and will be bound from 6 October. Taken together, the two accessions point to a clearer Gulf trend toward using the same international classification framework for industrial designs.For applicants, the practical benefit is greater consistency in classification, searching and portfolio administration across...
