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Find out moreThe first Law Update of 2024 is here, and our first focus of the year spotlights Healthcare and Lifesciences, a sector that is undergoing significant growth and development across the MENA region.
Our focus provides an insight into some of the most important regulatory updates across the region, such as the UAE’s groundbreaking law on the use of human genome, Kuwait’s resolution on nuclear and radioactive materials, the new regulations for healthcare services in Qatar, Egypt’s healthcare regulatory framework, and the impact of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law on the healthcare and life sciences sector … and there is so much more!
Beyond the healthcare pages our lawyers share with you multi-sector insights where you will discover articles on Dubai’s DIFC regulatory framework for startups, Bahrain’s commercial agencies law, and we also shed light on Kuwaiti civil code and the advantages of setting up a joint stock company in Saudi Arabia.
Read the full editionThe Jordanian Custom Department and the Jordanian legislative authority have recently provided a draft law on border measures amending the current Customs Law. The draft law is expected set out protective measures for intellectual property attached to goods being imported and exported and aims to strengthen border control measures to deal with piracy and counterfeiting found in such goods. The new law is expected to be aligned with the specific provisions found in the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights.
Currently, the trademark databases at the Jordanian Customs office and the Trademark Office are connected, thereby allowing Customs officials to access any and all trademarks already registered. However, presently, in the event that a customs official suspects a trademark infringement, their authority is limited to suspending importation or exportation of the goods and notifying the trademark owner, in order for the owner to file a claim within the legal timeframe allowed.
Should the draft law be ratified and enacted, the Customs’ officials will be granted further power to identify, intercept, and confiscate shipments of goods bearing infringing marks and inform the rights holder as well as the importer. These authorities will not require any previous action or complaint by the owner of the right(s). In fact, the new law goes further and grants Customs officials the authority to take the action or file claim against an infringer without reverting to the right owner
In applying this law, it is predicted that that IP protection for trademark owners will be enhanced, as the Jordanian Customs department will be able to lodge complaints against counterfeit goods without requiring previous instructions from the owner of the rights. In future, this is expected to decrease the number of forged and pirated goods entering and exiting Jordan.
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