MUSCAT: The ministry stressed that trademarks are valuable intangible assets that help distinguish products and services, build commercial reputations and strengthen businesses’ presence in local and international markets.

Engineer Khalid bin Hamoud Al Hinai, Director of the National Intellectual Property Office at the ministry, said the ministry is working to strengthen intellectual property protection and raise awareness of the importance of registering trademarks under the applicable legal framework.

He noted that building a successful brand involves more than choosing a distinctive name or designing an innovative logo. Businesses must first ensure that the proposed trademark is available for registration and eligible for legal protection.

A brand’s economic and investment value grows as a business expands, making it essential to establish a sound legal foundation that protects ownership rights and reinforces consumer confidence, Al Hinai said.

He added that the National Intellectual Property Office continues to promote respect for intellectual property rights and educate entrepreneurs and innovators about trademark registration requirements, supporting the development of distinctive Omani brands capable of competing and expanding in domestic and international markets.

Among the key restrictions, the ministry highlighted the prohibition on registering trademarks containing, or imitating, official flags, emblems and sovereign symbols of countries or organisations where such use is prohibited by law. The restrictions aim to protect official symbols and prevent trademarks from falsely implying government affiliation or endorsement.

The use of country names, regional names and geographical indications is also subject to legal controls, particularly where such references could mislead consumers about the origin of goods or services.

Images of castles, fortresses and historical landmarks are not automatically prohibited, the ministry explained. Their eligibility for registration depends on the elements used and whether they include protected features, official symbols or other elements that could imply an unauthorised government connection.

Al Hinai stressed that considering these requirements at the initial stages of brand development can help businesses avoid rejected applications, reduce costs and prevent potential legal disputes.

Ghalib bin Mohammed Al Saidi, Head of the Trade Department at the Department of Trade, Industry and Investment Promotion in Musandam Governorate, said examining trademark applications is essential to ensuring compliance with legal procedures and protecting trademark owners’ rights.

He explained that the assessment goes beyond the trademark’s appearance to examine its distinctiveness, eligibility for registration and potential conflicts with existing rights or legal restrictions.

Applications may be rejected if they contain protected official symbols, use geographical names in ways that misrepresent the origin of products or services, or include elements likely to mislead the public or cause consumer confusion.

Al Saidi also highlighted the importance of assessing the relationship between geographical names and the goods or services concerned to ensure that consumers are not given a false impression of a product’s origin or characteristics.

Conducting preliminary searches and legal checks before submitting an application can help businesses identify potential obstacles early, reducing the expense of modifying or redesigning a brand identity at a later stage, he added.

The ministry said trademark registration in Oman is governed by the Trademark Law (System) of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, issued under Royal Decree No. 33/2017, alongside the Industrial Property Rights Law issued under Royal Decree No. 67/2008, where applicable provisions are not covered by the GCC trademark system.

The legal framework establishes registration requirements, grounds for rejection, application examination and publication procedures, opposition mechanisms, and the rights arising from registration.

Submitting an application does not guarantee approval, the ministry emphasised. Applications are assessed under the applicable legislation and executive regulations, and authorities may request amendments, impose restrictions to clarify a mark and prevent confusion, or notify applicants of rejection grounds or suspend procedures when necessary.

Once a trademark is accepted, it is published in accordance with the prescribed procedures. Interested parties may file a written objection within 60 days of publication.

A registered trademark is protected for 10 years from the application date and may be renewed for successive periods, subject to the applicable legal requirements and procedures.

The ministry urged business owners, entrepreneurs and designers to conduct preliminary legal checks and ensure their trademarks are distinctive and free of prohibited symbols or misleading elements, describing awareness of registration requirements as essential to building strong and sustainable brands.