Country Data
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Official Name | The Kingdom of Bhutan |
| Capital | Thimphu |
| Area | 38,394 sq. km |
| Population | Approximately 797,000 (2025 estimate) |
| Official Language | Dzongkha |
| GDP | US$3.58 billion (2025 estimate) |
| Currency | Bhutanese Ngultrum (BTN) |
| Work Days | Monday – Friday |
Conventions/ Treaties
- Paris Convention – Bhutan acceded on May 4, 2000; effective August 4, 2000.
- WIPO Convention – Bhutan acceded on December 16, 1993; effective March 16, 1994.
- Berne Convention – Bhutan acceded on August 25, 2004; effective November 25, 2004.
- Madrid Agreement – Bhutan acceded on May 4, 2000; effective August 4, 2000.
- Madrid Protocol – Bhutan acceded on May 4, 2000; effective August 4, 2000.
- TRIPS Agreement/WTO – Bhutan is not a WTO member and is therefore not bound as a WTO member by the TRIPS Agreement. Bhutan’s WTO accession process remains ongoing.
- Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) – Not available – Bhutan is not a member of the PCT.
- Madrid System – Available – Bhutan is a member of both the Madrid Agreement and Madrid Protocol.
- Singapore Treaty – Not a member.
- Hague Agreement – Not a member.
- Nice Agreement – Not a member, although the Bhutanese Industrial Property Rules permit the Registrar to apply the Nice Classification.
- Locarno Agreement – Not a member.
- WIPO Copyright Treaty – Not a member.
- WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty – Not a member.
National Legislation
- Law No. 23 of 2010 on Trademarks and Geographical Indications, together with Decree No. 213 of 2011 on its Executive Regulations.
Basic Information
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Creation of rights | Registration-based system; prior use may provide certain rights. |
| Basis for filing | Registration is the principal basis of trademark protection. |
| Well-known marks | Special protection may be available. Nevertheless, local registration of the mark is highly recommended. |
| Types of marks | Trademarks, service marks, collective marks and geographical indications. |
| Priority | 6-month priority claim under the Paris Convention. |
| Madrid System | Not available – Yemen is not a member of the Madrid System. |
| Filing system | Single-class filing. |
| Classification | Nice Classification. |
| Who can be Applicant | (1) Corporate/business entities and (2) individuals. |
| Examination | On formal and substantive grounds. |
| Publication | In the Official Gazette. |
| Opposition period | 90 days from the date of publication. |
| Duration of registration | 10 years from the date of filing/payment of the filing fee – renewable for further periods of 10 years each. |
| Renewal grace period | 1 year after expiry, subject to payment of the prescribed fees. |
| Use requirement | A trademark registration may be challenged where the registrant has not used the mark during the relevant statutory period. Prior use may also be relied upon in certain circumstances. |
| Registration timeframe (straightforward case) | Approximately 12 to 18 months. |
Search
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Official Search | Available through the relevant trademark office. |
| Scope of search | Includes available registered and pending marks. |
| Turnaround time | Approximately 2–5 working days, depending on the type of search |
Ways to obtain protection
- Filing of national application with or without priority claim under the Paris Convention.
Documentary Requirements
New Applications
-
Power of Attorney from the applicant – duly legalized where required.
-
A copy of the applicant’s certificate of incorporation/commercial registration, where applicable.
-
A representation of the trademark.
-
A list of goods/services covered by the application.
-
A certified copy of the priority document, if priority is claimed.
Renewal of Registration
-
Power of attorney from the trademark owner.
-
A copy of certificate of registration of the mark.
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Renewal application and prescribed fees.
Change of Name / Address Recordation
-
Power of attorney stating the new name/address of the trademark owner.
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Change of Name/Address document.
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A copy of certificate of registration of the mark.
Assignment Recordation
-
Power of attorney from the Assignee.
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Deed of Assignment, duly signed by both the assignor and assignee.
-
A copy of certificate of registration of the mark.
Merger Recordation
-
Power of attorney from the surviving entity.
-
Merger document.
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A copy of certificate of registration of the mark.
License Recordation
-
Powers of attorney from the Licensor and Licensee.
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License agreement, duly signed by both parties.
-
A copy of certificate of registration of the mark.
National Legislation
- Law No. 2 of 2011 on Patents, Utility Models, Layout Designs of Integrated Circuits and Undisclosed Information, together with the relevant patent procedures.
Ways to obtain patent protection:
- National Filing in Yemen
- Convention application under the Paris Convention
Basic Information
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Claims admissible for | 1) Process; and 2) Product |
| Novelty requirement | Absolute novelty, subject to the statutory provisions. |
| Convention priority | Available (12 months). |
| PCT national phase entry deadline | Not applicable – Yemen is not a PCT member. |
| Search | Available through the competent IP authority. |
| Examination | With respect to form, novelty, inventive step and industrial applicability. |
| Publication | Accepted patent applications are published for opposition purposes. |
| Opposition period | 90 days from publication. |
| Protection term (patent) | 20 years from the filing date, non-renewable. |
| Protection term (utility model) | 7 years from the filing date. |
| Annuity payment | Annual fees are payable to maintain the patent. |
| Grace period for late annuity payment | Subject to the applicable regulations and prescribed surcharge. |
| Working/Compulsory License | Compulsory licensing provisions are available under the Patent Law. |
| Patent grant timeframe (straightforward case) | Approximately 2 to 4 years. |
Requirements
- Patent specification, claims, drawings (if any), and abstract.
- Applicant’s details.
- Inventor’s details.
- Certificate of incorporation or commercial registration document related to the applicant company.
- Assignment of invention rights, where the applicant is not the inventor.
- Power of Attorney from the applicant.
- A duly certified copy of the priority document, if priority is claimed.
- For a Convention application, the following items would also be required:
- Certified copy of the priority document.
- Verified translation where required.
- Supporting documents required by the competent IP authority.
- Industrial Designs
National Legislation
- Law No. 28 of 2010 on Industrial Designs, together with Decree No. 212 of 2011 on its Executive Regulations.
Ways to obtain protection for design:
- National filing in Yemen
- Application with priority claim under the Paris Convention
Basic Information
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Types of designs | Industrial designs and models. |
| Novelty | Novelty and originality are prerequisites for protection. |
| Multiple figures | Representations may be submitted to adequately disclose the design. |
| Convention priority | 6-month priority may be claimed. |
| Locarno Classification | Not applicable as Yemen is not a member of the Locarno Agreement. |
| Examination | Industrial design applications are examined for compliance with the statutory requirements |
| Publication | Registered designs are published in accordance with the applicable procedures. |
| Opposition | Any interested person may challenge the registration in accordance with the applicable law and procedures. |
| Protection term | 10 years from the date of filing. |
| Annuities | Fees are payable as prescribed under the applicable regulations. |
| Registration timeframe (straightforward case) | Approximately 1 to 2 years. |
Requirements
- Representations (drawings/photographs) of the design.
- Certificate of incorporation or commercial registration document related to the applicant company, where applicable.
- Assignment deed executed by the creator in favor of the applicant, if the applicant is not the creator.
- Power of Attorney from the applicant.
- A duly certified copy of the priority document, if priority is claimed
National Legislation
- Law No. 15 of 2012 on the Protection of Copyright and Related Rights
Basic Information
- Works protected: The Yemeni Copyright Law protects original literary, artistic and scientific works, including books and written works; computer programs; databases; lectures, speeches and similar works; dramatic and musical works; audiovisual works; photographs; drawings, paintings, sculpture and other artistic works; architectural works; maps and scientific works; and other protected literary and artistic works.
- Exceptions to copyright protection: Mere ideas, procedures, methods of operation, mathematical concepts, principles and abstract facts are generally excluded from copyright protection.
- Duration of copyright: Copyright protection generally lasts for the lifetime of the author and 50 years after his/her death. Joint works are protected for 50 years after the death of the last surviving author. Collective and audiovisual works are generally protected for 50 years from the beginning of the year following first publication.
- Registration: Copyright protection arises automatically and is not dependent on registration.
- Deposit: Voluntary deposit/recordal may be available with the competent authority.
- Registration timeframe: No registration is required for copyright protection.
Requirements
- Copies of the work.
- Name, address and nationality of the applicant.
- Nature of the applicant’s interest in the work.
- Title of the work.
- Name, address and nationality of the author.
- Power of Attorney from the applicant, where applicable.
- Assignment deed executed by the author in favor of the applicant, if the applicant is not the author.
