IP/N/1/BHR/G/1/Add.2  
 
18 September 2014  
(14-5230)  Page: 1/4  
Council for Trade-Related Aspects 
of Intellectual Property Rights  Original: English/anglais/inglés  
 
MAIN DEDICATED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAWS AND REGULATIONS 
NOTIFIED UNDER ARTICLE 63.2 OF THE AGREEMENT 
KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN  
 
Addendum 
 The present document reproduces the text
1 of Draft-Law No. (16) for the year (2006) amending 
some provisions of Law No. (16) for the year 2004 on the Protection of Geographical Indications, 
as notified by Bahrain on 10 June 2014 under Article 63.2 of the Agreement (see document 
IP/N/1/BHR/5/Rev.1). 
 
Conseil des aspects des droits de propriété 
intellectuelle qui touchent au commerce 
PRINCIPALES LOIS ET RÉGLEMENTATIONS CONSACRÉES À 
LA PROPRIÉTÉ INTELLECTUELLE NOTIFIÉES AU TITRE 
DE L'ARTICLE 63:2 DE L'ACCORD 
ROYAUME DE BAHREÏN  
Addendum 
 
Le présent document contient le texte1 du projet de Loi n° 16 de 2006 portant modification de 
certaines dispositions de la Loi n° 16 de 2004 sur la protection des indications géographiques, notifiée par Bahreïn le 10 juin 2014 au titre de l'article 63:2 de l'Accord (voir le document IP/N/1/BHR/5/Rev.1). 
 
Consejo de los Aspectos de los Derechos de Propiedad 
Intelectual relacionados con el Comercio 
PRINCIPALES LEYES Y REGLAMENTOS DEDICADOS A LA 
PROPIEDAD INTELECTUAL NOTIFICADOS EN VIRTUD 
DEL PÁRRAFO 2 DEL ARTÍCULO 63 DEL ACUERDO 
REINO DE BAHREIN  
Addendum 
 
En el presente documento se reproduce el texto1 del Proyecto de Ley N°16 de 2006 por el que se 
modifican algunas disposiciones de la Ley Nº 16 de 2004 sobre la protección de las indicaciones 
geográficas, notificada por Bahrein el 10 de junio de 2014 en virtud de lo dispuesto en el párrafo 2 
del artículo 63 del Acuerdo (véase el documento IP/N/1/BHR/5/Rev.1).  
                                               
1 In English only./En anglais seulement./En inglés solamente. IP/N/1/BHR/G/1/Add.2 
 
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Draft-law No (16) for the year (2006) 
Amending some provisions of Law No (16) for the year 2004  
On the 
Protection of Geographical Indications 
  
 
  
 
We, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the King of the Kingdom of Bahrain  
 Having reviewed the constitution, 
 
Law No. (16) For the year of 2004, pertaining to the protection of geographical indications;   
Law No. (23) for the year of 2005, which ratifies the United States- Bahrain Fee Trade Agreement; 
 The Shura Council and the House of Representatives have approved the following law which we have endorsed and enacted: 
 IP/N/1/BHR/G/1/Add.2 
 
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 First Article   
The following articles shall replace the corresponding Articles (1), (2), (5), (6) of Law No. (16) for 
the year of 2004, pertaining the Protection of Geographical Indications.  
 
Article (1) 
 
On the strength of the law provisions herein stipulated, geographical indications shall mean any 
sign that may have originated in the territories of a WTO member-state, or in a region or area or 
location of that region thereof wherein the product quality, good will or other characteristics essentially attributed to its geographical origin.  
 
The geographical indication may a sign or a group of signs in any form like words – including geographical and proper names – alphabets, numbers, miniature elements, color or colors.  
 
 
Article (2) 
 
It is not permissible for any natural or legal person to undertake the following: 
 1. The utilization of any instrument to designate or display any product that may suggest a 
geographical origin contrary to its authentic one, and by doing so misleading the public thereof.  
 2. The use of a geographical indication constituting unfair competition pursuant to provisions of 
Article no (10 
bis) of the Paris Convention for Pr otecting Industrial Property. 
 To this effect, the use of a geographical indication in a manner that may form public delusion in terms of the source of the product, even if the in dication is literally correct in respect of country, 
region or territory where the said product was produced.  
  
Article (5) 
 
a. The administrative authority competent with industrial property protection shall set up a 
register called "Geographical Indications Register" in which it shall record the accepted 
geographical indications, data pertaining thereto, and all acts affected thereon subject to the provisions of this law, its Executive By-laws and the decisions to be issued to implement it. 
 
 
Article (6) 
 
Without detriment to provisions of the international agreements enacted in the Kingdom of 
Bahrain, the provisions stipulated in Trademarks Law shall apply to geographical indications pertaining the following: 
 
a) Filing a registration application.  
b) Examination of registration application, accept or reject the application. 
c) Opposition to registration. 
d) Registration cancellation or strike-off. 
e) Transfer of the geographical indication owners hip, licensing its exploitation and imposing 
seizure. 
f) Compensating for any infringement on the rights prescribed in the provisions of this law.  
 All of which without detriment to provisions of this Law; and to undertake the necessary 
amendments.  
  IP/N/1/BHR/G/1/Add.2 
 
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  Second Article 
 The phrase "The administrative authority competent with industrial property" shall be replaced with "The administrative authority competent at the Trade Ministry", and the phrase "Minister 
competent with Industrial Property" with the "Trade  Minister", wherever stated in articles of Law 
No. (16) for the year 2006, on the protection of geographical indications.   
 
Third Article  A new article to be named Article ( 5 
bis) shall be added to Law No. (16) for 2004 on the Protection 
of Geographical Indications, stipulating the hereunder:  
  
Article (5 
bis) 
 
The geographical indications shall not be registered nor enjoy the protection as per the following: 
 
A. If the geographical indication bona fide most probably cause delusion with a trademark 
that is subject-matter of a registration application or a pending registration application. 
B. If the geographical indication would most pr obably constitute public delusion with an 
already existing trademark of which rights were acquired by use, bona fide, in the 
Kingdom.  
C. If the registration of a geographical indication as a trademark was not permissible 
pursuant to provisions of the Trademarks Law.  
  
Fourth Article 
 Clauses ( e) and ( f) of Article (9) of Law No (16) for 2004 pertaining to the protection of 
geographical indications shall be deleted.  
 
 Fifth Article 
 
The Ministers, each in his own capacity, shall implement provisions of this law, which shall come into effect as of the next day following th e publication thereof in the Official Gazette. 
 
 
 
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