We are proud to announce that we have expanded our business to a new location. Our newest addition is located in Istanbul, Turkey. This will enable us to respond effectively to the growing needs of our varied customers across the world and serve as our European hub.

The opening will be a great place to meet prospects, deliver high quality legal services and build credibility for the business opportunities that Eldib&Co offers.

Eldib & Co, is a global law firm based in Cairo, Egypt, with 7 hub-offices (in Alexandria (Egypt), Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Sudan, and Turkey), and over 55 affiliates in the region to support our clients’ business in regards to any Legal Matters, Intellectual Property or other areas of practice.

Eldib & Co has been serving clients across the world since 1875. The firm offers a wide array of legal services including anti-counterfeit, arbitration, commercial, copyrights, corporate, criminal, industrial designs, labor & employment, litigation, patents, real estate & property management, trademarks, transport. Our Intellectual Property department boasts a worldwide reputation, and is known as the oldest and strongest IP firm in Egypt and North Africa starting in 1921 as we registered the first Trademark in Egypt.

Address: 42 Maslak A Block Multioffice Daire No: 278 Ahi Evran Cad. No: 6 Maslak Sariyer Istanbul, Turkey

PoC: Can Mercan Partner, Eldib&Co can.mercan@eldibold.stg.xlabgroup.com

Phone:                 + 90 212 809 0040
Fax:                      + 90 212 8090041
Mob.                     + 90 532 292 1204

For inquiries, information, or to request a fee schedule, please contact mail@eldibold.stg.xlabgroup.com and can.mercan@eldibold.stg.xlabgroup.com.

In furtherance of its work supporting anticounterfeiting enforcement in Africa, INTA has been holding dialogues and meetings with key stakeholders in various countries in the region, including Cameroon, Ethiopia, Israel, Kenya, Rwanda, Nigeria, and South Africa.

On June 29, government officials, representatives from the private sector, and local attorneys gathered at the offices of Eldib & Co in Cairo, Egypt, for a dynamic enforcement-focused policy dialogue organized by INTA, titled “Anticounterfeiting Enforcement & Coordination.”

Dialogue participants included representatives from the Eastern Company for Tobacco, the Egyptian Customs Office, El Sewedy Electrics, the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

INTA Anticounterfeiting Committee and Middle East and Africa Global Council member Mohamed Eldib (Eldib & Co, Egypt) moderated the discussion with JETRO Director of Intellectual Property Rights Masakazu Shiozawa, Egyptian Customs Authority Head of Tarif Division Mohammed Mahmoud, U.S. Department of Commerce Intellectual Property Attaché for the Middle East and North Africa Peter C. Mehravari, and United States Homeland Security Investigations Officer Michael A. Schuster.

INTA Representative, Africa, Middle East and Intergovernmental Organizations Tat-Tienne Louembe highlighted areas of co-operation in efforts to stop counterfeits and illicit trade in Egypt. Mr. Louembe noted that effective anticounterfeiting requires strong customs enforcement and collaboration with the private sector and the need for a new recordal system at the Egyptian Customs Authority. He also offered INTA’s assistance with the training of customs officials and selected brand owners.

Panelists emphasized the importance of enhancing collaboration between the USPTO and JETRO, advocating for ways to elevate and champion intellectual property discussions within the Egyptian government. They also discussed approaches for increasing consumer awareness of illegal importation, local manufacturing, and sale of counterfeit products, as well as the threats to public safety and national and regional security that counterfeit products pose.

Mr. Louembe reiterated INTA’s commitment to working with government officials, private sector representatives, and members in this vital region. Participants expressed their interest in supporting further policy dialogues to encourage the mutual sharing of best practices and legislative improvements.

To read more, please visit https://www.inta.org/INTABulletin/Pages/Africa_Update_7415.aspx  

Published: 11 April 2019

The Ministry of Trade and Economy issued regulations that took effect on 5 April 2019 with respect to powers of attorney. You can read about at:

Kuwait Update – Power of Attorney for each TM Application Effective April 5, 2019

Following unfavorable feedback, the Ministry has now withdrawn these regulations. No official letter has been issued and but the original announcement has been retracted from the Ministry’s website.

The current POA requirements as follows: 1. A single POA legalized up to the Kuwaiti Embassy is sufficient to file multiple applications belonging to the same applicant; 2. A soft-copy of the POA is mandatory at the time of filing; 3. There is a 30 day grace period for filing the POA; 4. and POAs can be valid for a maximum of 10 years.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at kuwait@eldibold.stg.xlabgroup.com.

Published: 11 April 2019

Due to the continuing political turmoil, our firm in Khartoum is now closed until Monday April 15 and may be extendible after the events of the weekend unfold.

We will provide you with updates as soon as they become available.

Turmoil in Libya

As you have likely learned, tensions are rising in Libya as the capital of Tripoli and surrounding areas are affected by clashes and impending danger in the nation.

Political protests in Khartoum

Anti-president protests in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum are ongoing and continuing to grow with military intervention imminent.

These events could interrupt business flow in Libya and Sudan respectively.

Our firms in both jurisdictions are open as usual and we will do our best to make sure that instructions are attended to in a timely fashion, yet we expect that there may be periods of danger not allowing our teams to proceed with scheduled work, times where government entities will be closed, and periods where electricity, phone and internet connections may be affected.

We ask for your cooperation during this time and to allow for delays. We also ask that instructions for Libya and Sudan are sent well in advance of any deadlines, allowing ample time for the firm to act in case of any of the above scenarios.

In accordance with circular number 2 for the year 2019, the Patent and Trademark Office in Kuwait has announced that effective April, 5, 2019; the Power of Attorney (POA) for trademark matters should include the following:

1. POA is a mandatory document that must be submitted at the time of filing the TM application, otherwise the application will be rejected. Each POA must be notarized and legalized by the Kuwaiti Embassy in the applicant’s country, and translated into Arabic;

2. POA should include the following information for the agent or firm: Name, nationality, address, service description, terms & conditions, service location, POA duration and renewal agreement, expiration & cancellation policy;

3. Each TM application requires a separate POA to be submitted in relation to filing, appeal, registration and the issuance of the TM certificate;

4. A new POA must be submitted for TM renewal, change of name/address, and assignment (and other recordal) prosecution procedures;

5. POA cannot be valid for longer than 10 years, and can be renewed within 6 months of its expiration.

It is important to note that each trademark, even if belonging to the same applicant will now need its own POA.

Appeals before the competent courts only

 

The head of the Sudanese Registrar General of Intellectual Property has announced the cancellation of the committees of appeal. As such, any responses to office actions must be filed before the competent courts.

In accordance with the Sudanese IP Law No. 8 year 1969, article 16 (2):

“Any refusal by the Registrar to register a mark or any condition, amendment, modification or limitation imposed by him shall be subject to appeal to the Court.”

In other words, any interested party shall appeal the office action before the court within one month from the date of issuance of the office action, and the matter shall be deliberated as a law suit.

We have also inquired about the pending appeals and were advised that no decision has been taken yet in this regards.

We will keep you advised with further updates as they become available.

Should you have any questions and queries, please contact us at mail@eldibold.stg.xlabgroup.com and we will be proud if you turn to us with confidence.

Eldib & Co had the privilege of being the sole Legal Expert for the VIC-MED project “Establishment of a Navigational Line between Lake Victoria and the Mediterranean Sea”, throughout its pre-feasibility study phase.

The VIC-MED project’s principal objective is to develop a sustainable transport link between the Nile Basin countries, namely Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, Sudan and Egypt; which will accordingly;

a) Promote economic integration among the Nile Basin countries through trade movements, and cheaper and cleaner transport means for goods and people,
b) Ultimately build a development corridor on the Nile River,
c) Serve the Nile Basin countries that have no access to the seas and oceans,
d) Reduce poverty among the Nile Basin countries.

Eldib & Co has successfully prepared the Legal Framework for the Project, at this phase, which was presented and approved by the Project’s foot-print countries and management unit during the Fourth Steering Committee Meeting which was held in Egypt on the 16th and 17th of October, 2018 during Egypt’s First Cairo Water Week (CWW) which kicked off on Sunday 14th of October, 2018 under the auspices of President Sisi, aiming to increase the public awareness of water rationalization for the sustainable development amid state of water.

We are extremely grateful to be part of such a historic and strategically significant milestone for the region.

 

Dr. Sahar Nasr minister of Investment and International Cooperation, has accredited the decree of establishing the Sole Proprietorship companies, which came into action today August 16th, 2018 Dr. Nasr has stated the benefits of the Proprietorship companies which is to encourage the small business and startups. Documents required for establishing the Sole Proprietorship Company:

• Non-ambiguity certificate approved by the Commercial Register
• A bank certificate with a deposit of the entire capital, not less than EGP 50,000

In case that a legal entity wishes to establish a Sole Proprietorship Company, the following documents shall be submitted:

• Eligible power of attorney from the individual.
• A copy of the recent commercial record of the legal entity (Original copy is only requested for review)

In case the founder of the Sole Partnership Company is a person of the public law, the approval of the Prime Minister or the competent minister should be obtained, according to the case, the following documents shall be submitted:

• Power of attorney enclosing the right of establishing a company, signature of articles of association before the notary public.
• Security check form for the company founder and/or foreign manager.
• Original extract from the register of accountants and auditors is required for the accounts auditor to be appointed, the extract shall be enclose his right to review and approve the budgets of the company, hence, a copy or confirmation of  the appointment  has to be submitted in advance to the GAFI.

• Identity proof copy (Original copy is only requested for review)

• In case of “In Kind share” an evaluation of the “share” shall be submitted from the competent experts and the founder’s approval of the validity of the said evaluation.
• In the case of a public free zone, the approval of the Authority shall be obtained before incorporation and the approval of the Board of Directors of the free zone to which the project is to be established.

Our experienced and specialized attorneys at Eldib & Co will guide you step by step for any company incorporation matters. Should you have any questions and queries, please contact us at mail@eldibold.stg.xlabgroup.com and we will be proud if you turn to us with confidence.

Eldib & Co – Attorneys at Law has been providing services in Intellectual Property for the last 100 years and in turn gained the trust of thousands of clients. It is now our pleasure to announce the opening of our new Turkish office located at: Maslak Mah. Ahi Evran Cad. Polaris Plaza No: 21 Kat: 3 D: 18 Şişli, Istanbul, Turkey in view of the increasing demand of our business and to deliver prompt and speedy service to all our clients. We thank you for your continued trust and business.

Services we offer in Turkey:

• Patents
• Trademarks
• Designs
• New Plant Varities
• Title Updates
• Brand enforcement
• IP Litigation

Our Team and our Managing Director in Turkey Can Mercan forever endeavor to serve you better. Enquiries may be sent to can.mercan@eldibold.stg.xlabgroup.com or dina.eldib@eldibold.stg.xlabgroup.com