The publication of a trademark is an essential step in the
registration process. For one, it lets the applicant know that the
mark is close to being officially registered. But it does not mean
registration has occurred nor that it is guaranteed in the near
future.
Publication of a trademark application can alert owners of
existing trademarks that certain pending registrations may infringe
upon their Intellectual Property (IP) rights.
Subsequently, these owners can file motions of opposition to the
registration of new marks within a specified timeframe. This
period's length varies significantly between countries in the
Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan (MENAP) region. For example,
in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), oppositions must be filed no
more than 30 days after the publication date. By contrast, the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) allows 60 days, while Qatar requires
opposition filings within four months from the publication
date.
