Quatar’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry has announced that the Grievance Committee for Patent Appeals has commenced its operation and has begun accepting appeal applications as of February 4, 2024. In case of unfavourable decisions (refusals) of patent applications, applicants can appeal such decisions before the said Committee within 15 days from the date of receiving the Patent Office decision according to article 7 of law no. 30/2006. Appeals Committee decisions are binding and cannot be further appealed before any other party or court as per Article 153 of 2018.

“Leaving behind the conventional role that only involves reviewing rejections of patent applications, this committee’s responsibilities now extend to examining appeals against examination reports,” said Jehad Ali Hasan, CEO at JAH & Co Intellectual Property in Doha. “Qatar’s commitment to ensuring comprehensive and equitable handling of patent disputes is evidenced by this wider scope.”

Hasan remarked that the Grievance Committee will possibly impact Qatar’s patent landscape significantly. A more transparent and reliable IP system can be achieved by providing a structured platform for resolving patent disputes, he said. This initiative aims to encourage innovation, protect inventors’ rights and strengthen Qatar’s commitment to fostering a supportive environment for IP.

He added: “The newly established Grievance Committee for Patent Appeals is tasked with reviewing appeals related to patent application decisions and considering objections to decisions issued by the Patent Office regarding applications, oppositions, and cancellations. All decisions made by the Committee can be appealed before the Federal Court of Appeal.”

- Excel V. Dyquiangco