February 2019 Issue 121

Transcription

1 February 2019 Issue 121 AGIP Launches Brand Protection Department TAG-Legal Provides Registration Service for Importing Products with GOEIC

2 IN THIS ISSUE AGIP Launches Brand Protection Department New Commercial Companies Law Promulgated in Oman TAG-Legal Provides Registration Service for Importing Products with GOEIC 8 Egypt to Enact Amendments on the Investment Law TAG-Legal Participates in the DED Seizes 19.9 Million Pieces Preparatory Meeting for Investment of Counterfeit Products Worth 5 in Jordan Conference 8 AED 332 Million in 2018 TAG-Legal Launches New Redesigned Website 6 tag-legal.com

3 AGIP Launches Brand Protection Department AMMAN Signifying another major milestone for Abu-Ghazaleh Intellectual Property (AGIP) in the field of Intellectual Property Rights protection, AGIP is pleased to announce that it has launched a host of new services through the new Brand Protection Department (BPD). The Brand Protection Department will provide clients with a comprehensive strategic plan for protecting their trademarks, with the view of offering them a complete legal protection system for their brands portfolios. As we recognize the vital role trademark plays in representing products among the varied consumers and industries, we have devoted a professional team that will provide you with a customized approach on protecting and enforcing your brand in the markets. Our experienced team can help you with all trademark-related matters including: Legal Consultations. Litigation Services. Market Investigation. Cease and Desist Letters. Drafting Franchise Agreement. Customs Measures. For more information about our Brand Protection Department, please contact us at the following address: TAGI-UNI Building 104 Mecca Street, Um-Uthaina, Amman, Jordan P.O. Box: , Amman 11192, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Tel.: Fax: brand-protection@tag-legal.com 3 TAG-Legal tag-legal.com

4 TAG-Legal Provides Registration Service for Importing Products with GOEIC CAIRO The Ministry of Trade and Industry in Egypt issued the Ministerial Decree No. 44 of 2019 stipulating that certain imported goods will not be legally allowed to enter into the Egyptian market unless the General Organization for Export and Import Control (GOEIC) authorizes the merchandise. The GOEIC included new goods on the list, as follows: Bags Items for the transfer and packaging goods (containers, boxes, bags, and similar products) Shaving and hair care appliances Mobile phones As per the Ministerial Decree, trademark owners have to record the name of the manufacturer and the corresponding trademark registration of the imported products at the GOEIC. In this regard, TAG-Legal office in Egypt helps clients record their trademarks with the Organization, as the first frontier in the fight against counterfeiting and infringement. Once a trademark is recorded with the GOEIC, the entrance of infringing products will be closely controlled and the owners will be immediately notified of any such incidents. The Ministerial Decree has been published in the Official Gazette on January 15, 2019, and entered into force the following day. For more information, please contact TAG-Legal office in Egypt at: taglegal.egypt@tag-legal.com 4 TAG-Legal tag-legal.com

5 TAG-Legal Participates in the Preparatory Meeting for Investment in Jordan Conference AMMAN Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Legal (TAG-Legal) took part in the preparatory meeting for the first Investment in Jordan Conference, held in Amman, Jordan, February 23, The meeting was organized by the Royal Jordanian Geographic Center (RJGC) to prepare for the first Investment in Jordan Conference, which will be held in Jordan, August Participants focused on topics that will be talked during the conference, highlighting the features, strengths, competitiveness, and attractiveness of Jordan as investment destination. Ms. Deema Abu-Zuleikha, Senior Legal Counsel and Quality Control Manager of TAG-Legal attended the meeting along with participants from private and public sectors, investment funds, as well as policy makers. Commenting on her participation, Ms. Abu-Zuleikha said: The meeting offered an opportunity to discuss the best ways to restore confidence in the Jordanian economy and to boost exports, attract investments, open new doors to create jobs and drive economic growth in Jordan. We also showcased the role of TAG-Legal, a member of Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization (TAG-Org), in assisting investors and emerging businesses starting their companies through a full set of incorporation solutions that fit multi-jurisdictions and achieve their commercial purposes, she added. During the meeting, Ms. Abu-Zuleikha highlighted TAG-Legal s role as one of World Bank Group international partners and a contributor to the World Bank Group s Doing Business 2019 Report. The report discloses the results by using 10 indicators related to business, including ease of doing business, obtaining construction licenses, electricity network and credit, in addition to enforcing contracts and protecting investors, focusing on the comparison between legal and organizational procedures, and the reform steps set in legislations for improving the investment environment in each economy. It is worth noting that TAG-Legal provides incorporation and investment service, where it incorporates all types of foreign investments, including offshore companies. It assists newly-established and offshore companies to grow and become acknowledged competitors in the international market. TAG-Legal s team of corporate and commercial experts undertakes legal transactions for both entities and individuals, registers companies, offers sound legal advice, and handles all clients' legal and business agreements regardless of companies' locations. 5 TAG-Legal tag-legal.com

6 TAG-Legal Launches New Redesigned Website AMMAN Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Legal (TAG-Legal) is pleased to announce the launch of its new website with enhanced features, making it an essential online source of information for the global law community. The newly redesigned site embodies TAG-Legal's forward-thinking vision and commitment to the growing needs of its clients, and provides users with a comprehensive overview on issues relating to law. It is easier now for everyone in the law industry to access various forms of of legal information and services tailored to meet our clients needs. 6 TAG-Legal tag-legal.com

7 New Commercial Companies Law Promulgated in Oman MUSCAT - His Majesty Sultan Qaboos issued the Sultani Decree No. 18/2019, promulgating a new Commercial Companies Law in the Sultanate. The new Commercial Companies Law replaces the old law with entirely new provisions. The companies governed by the old law have to comply with the requirements of the new law within one year of its implementation. The new law was published in the official gazette on February 13, 2019, and will enter into force 60 days as from the date of publication. Key changes introduced by the new Commercial Companies Law are as follows: 1. Holding companies may no longer take the form of limited liability companies. According to the new law, any holding company currently in the form of a limited liability company has to be converted into a joint stock company whose object is to conduct the business of a holding company. 2. The law introduces a new corporate vehicle, the sole shareholder company, which is a limited liability company with only one either natural or juristic shareholder. 3. Natural persons may not incorporate more than one sole shareholder company. A sole shareholder company may not incorporate another sole shareholder company. 4. Capital contributions may take the form of cash, moveable or immoveable property, intangible rights, services or labor. 7 TAG-Legal tag-legal.com

8 Egypt to Enact Amendments on the Investment Law CAIRO The General Investment Authority in Egypt will issue significant amendments on the investment law, to promote foreign investments in the country. One of the key amendments that will be introduced to the investment law is that companies and establishments shall be exempted from the recorder of deeds fees (5%). Another notable amendment is that the voting for General Assemblies will be conducted online starting from March Members of the General Assemblies can vote for future Assemblies decisions online instead of in person at the Assembly meetings. As a result, all Assembly members will have the opportunity to vote even if they are unable to attend the meeting. On the other hand, all documents will be submitted online instead of paper documents, where companies establishment procedures in Egypt will be completed within less than 24 hours, and the investor will obtain his tax card and commercial register on the same day of company s establishment. 8 TAG-Legal tag-legal.com

9 DED Seizes 19.9 Million Pieces of Counterfeit Products Worth AED 332 Million in 2018 DUBAI - The Department of Economic Development (DED) in Dubai confiscated 19.9 million pieces of counterfeit items with an estimated market value of AED 332 million in 2018 as it strengthened efforts to protect trademarks and intellectual property rights thereby reinforcing the Emirate's competitiveness as a hub for local and international businesses as well as a regional and global gateway. The Commercial Compliance & Consumer Protection (CCCP) sector in DED told a press conference that it had received a total of 330 cases from trademark owners and representatives during 2018, out of which 289 were related to trademarks and 41 involving commercial agencies. Following the announcement, the press and business representatives were invited to witness the process of destroying counterfeit goods at DED's Umm Ramool Center. Cosmetics ranked first in the number of goods seized million pieces, which was 28% of the total and worth AED 88.3 million. Cans and other packaging material stood next at 3.3 million pieces (valued at AED 21.4 million), followed by phones and accessories (2.3 million pieces). In terms of the estimated value, phones and accessories ranked first at AED 98 million (34% of the total), followed by cosmetics, and watches (15, 1165 pieces worth AED 21.7 million). "The Department of Economic Development strives to ensure economic activity in Dubai is free and fair while also safeguarding consumer rights as well as intellectual 9 TAG-Legal tag-legal.com

10 property rights. We are pleased with our achievements in 2018 as it confirms our role in maintaining round-the-clock vigil by way of investigation, field visits and random searches to detect counterfeit products and seize them. We also seek cooperation from trademark owners and law firms in our efforts," commented Mohammed Ali Rashid Lootah, CEO of CCCP: Lootah added that CCCP managed to protect 4,537 registered products, including major local and global brands, in "Our IP Portal has seen 3,477 trademark protection files opened from its launch to the end of 2018," he said. US brands accounted for 1,203 (27.1% of the total) of those files, 656 (14.8%) were related to UAE brands, 357 (8.1%) were German, French labels were involved in 304 files (6.9%), British brands in 300 files (6.8%), Japanese brands in 257 files (5.8%), 234 files were Italian (5.3%) and 166 (3.7%) were Swiss. Five countries together accounted for a majority (243) of trademark-related cases received at CCCP's Intellectual Property Protection Department in US (57 cases, 19.8% of the total), UAE (49 cases, 17%), France (44 cases, 15.2%), Switzerland (40 cases, 13.9%), Germany (24 cases, 8.3%), Japan (18 cases, 6.2%) and Italy (11 cases 3.8%). Lootah said CCCP's achievements in 2018 underline DED's strategic focus on positioning Dubai as a preferred destination for leading brands internationally, adding that DED spares no effort in enhancing Dubai's competitiveness and reinforcing the Emirate's leadership in the global economy. Ibrahim Behzad, Director of Intellectual Property Protection in CCCP, said: "Overall, cosmetics, duplicate packing cases and phone accessories accounted for almost 50% of the counterfeit goods confiscated in The remaining goods included auto parts, clothing, electrical equipment, plumbing material, etc." Behzad: "Our team conducts organized and random campaigns against counterfeit goods round the year, and we have recorded at least 3,700 confiscations in Products of four countries accounted for 63% of such confiscations - Switzerland (622 confiscations), France (569) Italy (556), and the US (478)." Source: Department of Economic Development (DED) 10 TAG-Legal tag-legal.com

11 Where We Operate General Administration Abu Dhabi, UAE Algeria, Algeria Amman, Jordan Beirut, Lebanon Cairo, Egypt Damascus, Syria Casablanca, Morocco Doha, Qatar Dubai, UAE Jebel Ali Free Zone Area, UAE Jeddah, KSA Kabul, Afghanistan Karachi, Pakistan Khartoum, Sudan Kuwait City, Kuwait Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain Moscow, Russia Muscat, Oman New Delhi, India Nicosia, Cyprus Ramallah, Palestine Riyadh, KSA Sana a, Yemen Shanghai, China Tunis, Tunisia This Newsletter is Published by the Quality Control Department of Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Legal (TAG-Legal) Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Legal 2019 Reproduction is permitted provided that the source is acknowledged. For inquiries: Quality Control Department Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Legal (TAGLegal) / quality.legal@tag-legal.com 11 TAG-Legal tag-legal.com

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