The Gulf Cooperation Council

There's an ancient Arab proverb that says: "Cherish your brother, for he who is brotherless is like a warrior in a battle without weapons." The Arab Gulf states, whose common history encompass more than two millennia, have especially strong brotherly relations that bind them together. So it was a natural conclusion that these bounds should express themselves formally.

The Treaty to establish the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) was signed in Abu-Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, by the heads of six Arab Gulf states on the 25th of May 1981. The GCC comprises the United Arab Emirates, State of Bahrain, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Sultanate of Oman, State of Qatar and State of Kuwait.

The six member states have many similarities, chief among them are the Islamic foundations of their political systems, their deep-rooted and unambiguous Arab identity, and the historical tribal and social ties between their societies.

Based on this, the GCC states were joined in a collaborative structure that encourages the coordination of foreign policies, economic integration and social inter-connection among the Member States in all fields in order to achieve unity, according to articles 4 of the GCC Charter.

The strengthening of relations, links and areas of cooperation among their citizens, cannot be emphasized more than in the area of trade. The geographic facts of the Arab Gulf show the vitality of the region, which is surrounded by three major naval routes, linking Asia and Africa, to the rest of the Arab World. Trade bonds the GCC States and presents them as a unified economic bloc to the rest of the World.

GCC Patent Office

Wherever there is trade, there are goods and services, and wherever there are goods and services there are Intellectual Property Rights (IPR's), to protect these goods and services. The GCC, in tune with the winds of globalization, has begun to pay heed to these IPR's. The first successful step has been the GCC Patent office.

The Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), issued the Unified Patent Law in December 1992, followed by the Implementing Regulations in 1996. The GCC Patent Office designated to fulfill the requirements of the Law was opened in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It began accepting the filing of applications as of October 3rd, 1998.

In November 1999, the GCC Council proposed further amendments to the Law and the Amended Law became effective as of August 16th, 2000.

Protection of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) patent extends to members of the GCC Countries, namely Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE