Institution and legal framework

The GCCPO was established in 1992 and is headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Its legal basis is the GCC Unified Patent Regulation (Unified Patent Regulation, 1992) and its Implementing Regulations.

Competent bodies:

• Gulf Cooperation Council Patent Office (GCCPO)

• Under: GCC Secretariat General (Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council)

Main legal instruments:

• “Unified Patent Regulation for the GCC Countries” (Unified Patent Regulation)

• “Implementing Regulations” (Implementing Bylaws)

• “GCC Industrial Property Law” (draft industrial property law, adopted in some member states)

International and regional cooperation

• The GCCPO is an official cooperation partner of WIPO and takes part in PCT-related technical information sharing and training;

• It has established technical examination cooperation frameworks with EPO, KIPO and JPO;

• It maintains exchange mechanisms with the Arab IP Office and African regional organisations (ARIPO, OAPI);

• All GCC member states are parties to the Paris Convention, TRIPS and the PCT.

• Trademarks and designs can obtain EU-wide protection via EUIPO;

• The patent system is closely aligned with EPO: once a European patent is granted it can be validated in Spain;

• Spain is an active member of WIPO, EPO and EUIPO;

• It maintains IP cooperation frameworks with Latin American countries such as Mexico, Chile and Argentina.

Patent system

Scope of protection and validity

The GCC patent system originally allowed a single patent application to obtain unitary protection in all six member states (1998–2021).
However, as of 6 January 2021, the GCCPO no longer accepts new patent applications, and examination and registration functions have gradually been transferred to the national patent offices of the member states.

The current framework is as follows:

• The GCCPO continues to administer the maintenance of patents granted before 2021;

• New applications must be filed directly with the national patent offices of the member states (for example, SAIP – Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property).

Historical term of protection

• Invention patents: 20 years from the filing date;

• Examination languages: Arabic and English;

• Examination mechanism: substantive examination carried out by the GCCPO or external experts.

Filing requirements (historical scheme)

• A single application covered all member states;

• Specification, claims and abstract were required;

• English and Arabic translations had to be provided;

• Average examination period: about 2–3 years.

System features

• Single grant with effect in all six countries (unitary effect);

• Centralised filing and examination at the GCCPO;

• Subsequent renewals and enforcement are handled by the national patent offices.