UAE Economy Ministry to publish amendments to industrial property law

Abu Dhabi, Jan 11, 2010 (WAM)- The Ministry of Economy has announced plans to publish proposed amendments to the industrial property law no. 31 for 1996 on its website, inviting comments and suggestions from the stakeholders, experts and specialists. The Ministry's Under secretary Mohammed Ahmed bin Abdul Aziz Al Shihi said the amendments were aimed reforming industrial legislations to become in tune with the agreements signed by the UAE within the Trade Related Aspects of Industrial Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement. He said some of the amendments were made to be in tandem with the Paris Convention and with the GCC agreement on patents. By virtue of federal decree no. 20, issued on 18 March 1996, the UAE joined the Paris Convention. It also joined the GCC Patents Bureau in November 1998.