GCC Patent Office
Regional patent office based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The GCC Patent Office (GCCPO) is a regional patent office based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, within the Secretariat General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).[1] The GCC consists of six member countries: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In 2013, it employed about 30 patent examiners.[2]
The GCCPO was established under the GCC Patent Regulation, which was approved by the Supreme Council of the GCC in its 13th session held in Abu Dhabi, from 21-23 December 1992.[3] The office began accepting applications on 3 October 1998, with the first patent granted in 2002. The patent system was amended in the Supreme Council's 20th session held in Riyadh, from 27-29 November 1999.[4][5] It was amended to conform to the Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights agreement (TRIPS) within the World Trade Organization (WTO) framework of agreements.[6]
The GCCPO played a role in "encouraging and supporting innovation, creativity and invention" within the GCC.[3] Upon securing patent protection, inventors would find it easier to develop or commercialize their technology across the region.
As of 5 January 2021, the GCCPO has stopped accepting new applications, although it will begin processing them again after amending the Patent Regulation.[7]