Page 377 - Bahrain Gov annual reports (V a)_Neat

■■

37

REGISTRY OF PATENTS, DESIGNS AND TRADE MARKS
I. Trade Mark Registrations—Statistics. The total number of Trade Marks now on the
Register under Part II of the Regulation (United Kingdom Marks) is 454, and there are at this
date 36 cases in which registration is pending settlement of fees.
The number of new applications which have been accepted for publication during the past
five months are :
October 46 November 21
December 6 January .. 13
February ___ 20+7
In cases where the registration procedure was not complete in the Registry in October, all these
cases have now been entered in the Register and certificates issued.
It is reasonable to suppose that by December 1956 the peak of initial applications had been
passed, and that work has now fallen to a reasonable level with which the present establishment
of staff can cope.

2. Staff—Clerical. The Registry Records Clerk had been absent from duty since Novem­
ber 1st, and has now been discharged. The vacancy has only just been filled. The remaining
staff have been working under pressure due to this shortage, but all work is now up to date.

3. Pending Cases. A number of cases pending due to objections or citations have been
unsettled due to the temporary absence from Bahrain of one of the Authorised Agents, but
these are now receiving attention from the firm concerned.

4. Renewal Procedure. The dual system of United Kingdom and Bahrain subsisting
registration as provided in the law is now beginning to take effect, and as subsisting registration
expires so Renewal Notices are being issued monthly in increasing numbers. At present these
only relate to United Kingdom registrations, but from 1960 onwards all Bahrain registrations
will require to be renewed.

5. Office Equipment. The Registry is still awaiting the provision of a standard size
Arabic typewriter. This has been on demand for nearly a year, and on arrival will be most
useful.
6. Registry Security. On two occasions during January the offices have been damaged
by stone-throwing ; windows have been smashed and external electric light fittings and water
supply pipe have been torn and damaged. It is recommended that a night-watchman be
employed to ensure the security of the Registry Records.

7. Infringements Proceedings. During October one case of infringement of a registered
textile design was brought before the Joint Court. The Assistant Registrar was required to
attend and produce proof of due registration of the design in suit. After three sittings of the
Court the parties to the action reached a settlement which was recorded. This case attracted
attention among the local importers of textile piece goods, and gave the Registry staff some
useful experience of the operation of the law.

8. Amending Legislation. Queen’s Regulation No. 1 of 1956 amended the original law as
regards the charging of fees in regard to the registration of a series of Trade Marks. An
amendment has also been proposed to the Procedure Rules to bring them into agreement with
the United Kingdom Rules in respect of the classification of goods. A draft has been sub­
mitted for approval by the Political Resident and the Ruler of Bahrain.
9. Official Publications. Since 1955 the Registry has built up a useful collection of issues i
of the Official Journal (Patents), the Trade Marks Journal and Reports of Patent Cases in the
United Kingdom, and these provide reference facilities both for the Registry staff and Author­
ised Agents and other members of the public.