Qatar is a country in Western Asia. With economy soaring high, Qatar has the fourth highest GDP (PPP) per capita in the world and sixth highest GNI per capita as per the reports in 2020. Not only with this, Qatar has been classified as a country of very high human development with third highest HDI in the Arab World. With a high-income economy, it backed by the world's third-largest natural gas reserves and oil reserves. Qatar is the world's largest exporter of liquefied natural gas, and the world's largest emitter of carbon dioxide per capita.

With the discovery of oil, it transformed the State economy with the high standard of living for its citizen. Moreover, Qatar is one of the countries with the lowest tax rates in the world. As of International Monetary Fund reports of 2016, Qatar has the fourth highest GDP per capita in the world where it relies heavily on foreign labour to grow its economy. Regaining the title of the richest country in the world in 2012 Qatar's per capita GDP at purchasing power parity (PPP) was $106,000 (QR387,000) in 2012, helping the country retain its ranking as the world's wealthiest nation, where it overtakes Luxembourg in 2010. The research put Qatar's GDP at $182bn in 2012 and said it had climbed to an all-time high due to soaring gas exports and high oil prices. The same study published that Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), with assets of $115bn, was ranked 12th among the richest sovereign wealth funds in the world.

Patents in Qatar

If you were an inventor or an author, or if you have a new creative idea, we can help you in getting your patent granted in Qatar. One may submit a request online to register a patent and intellectual property right without having to go in person to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI), which saves time and effort. The requests get checked to ensure offering a high-quality service that would be achievable at the scheduled time to reach the final decision regarding the intellectual property registration.

The process of patent registration in Qatar is governed by the Qatar Patent Law (No. 30 of 2006). Companies that wish to patent their inventions must meet the requirements as per Qatar Patent law.

Patentability

Patents shall be available for any inventions, provided that they are new, involve an inventive step and are capable of industrial application whether they are related to new industrial products, modem industrial techniques and devices, or common industrial methods. Besides, it shall not be contradicting with the provisions of Islamic Sharia' (Law), violating the public order, ethics or national security.

The patent subject may be in the form of material product, an industrial process or a manufacturing technique. Subject to the law hereby, patentability shall not include:

- Scientific theories, mathematical methods, computer programs, exercise of pure intellectual activities, or practice of a specific game;

- Plants and animals’ researches, and essentially biological processes for the production of plants or animals other than microbiological processes and its productions.

- Diagnostic, therapeutic and surgical methods for the treatment of humans or animals and its productions;

Filing requirement

For the filing process, the applicant needs to submit:

- Applicant name and address.

- Inventor(s) name and address.

- Patent Abstract, claims, and drawings in English and Arabic language should be submitted upon filing.

- Patent Specifications in English should be submitted upon filing.

- Patent Specifications in Arabic should be submitted within 6 months from filing date.

- Certified copy of the priority document should be submitted within 3 months from filing date.

- Certified copy of the international publication report upon filing.

- Power of Attorney (POA): Original should be notarized and legalized at the Qatari embassy and submitted within 6 months from filing date.

- Certified copy of the certificate of incorporation or an extract from the commercial registry if the applicant is a company, or a copy of the applicant’s passport if the applicant is an individual, submitted within 6 months from filing date.

- Deed of Assignment (DOA): signed by the inventor(s), notarized and legalized at the Qatari embassy, and submitted within 6 months from filing date.

Examination

The office shall examine registration applications. In this regard, it shall be entitled to request all necessary documents for patent granting. The applicant may bring grievance against the office refusal decision within fifteen days of being notified by a registered mail at a committee whose membership and competence are decided by a Ministerial decision. The Committee's decision shall only be irrevocable after being approved by the Minister in accordance with the provisions of the executive bylaws of the law hereby.

For the examination, the application will be examined and the examiner will issue his direction of either amendment of the application, rejection of the applicant or acceptance of the same. For amendment the applicant has 90 days from the official notification date to reply to proceed with the examination of application. For rejection, the applicant has 15 days from the official notification date to appeal the decision before the Appeal Committee. For acceptance, the applicant has to settle the publication fees to publish the application in the official gazette. Any interested third party can oppose the said application within 60 days from the date of publication. The Patent Office will study the opposition and issue its decision within 30 days from filing date of opposition; otherwise, the opposition will be considered rejected implicitly. Once the application passes the publication period successfully, the registration fees should be settled to issue the related certificate of registration.

(Time Limit may vary. Clients are requested to check the official website or be in touch with our attorney)

Fees

(Please Note- The fees are subject to change with minor variations. The firm will not be liable for any discrepancy in the fees. The Charges will be taken as per the fees relevant at the time of providing the services.)

1- Patent Registration:

- Students: None, as they are exempted from paying any fees

- Individuals: QR1000

- Educational and Research Institutions and Companies: QR 2000

2- Technical Examination:

- Students: QR100

- Individuals: QR2500

- Educational and Research Institutions, Companies and organizations: QR 5000

3- Patent Acceptance Newspaper Publication:

- Students: QR50

- Individuals: QR200

- Educational and Research Institutions, Companies and organizations: QR400

4- Patent Certificate Issuance:

- Students: QR100

- Individuals: QR1000

- Educational and Research Institutions, Companies and organizations: QR2000

A patent is protected for 20 years from the filing date. Annuities should be settled prior to the anniversary of the filing date of a national application or a PCT international application until the termination of the patent protection duration. For example: if the patent was filed on 30 January, then the annuity should be settled every year prior to 30 January. The applicant should settle the annuity starting from the second year of filing the national application according to Paris Convention.

In case of any query, contact us at Global Patent Filing, or write back us via email at support@globalpatentfiling.com.