DAMASCUS - Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Naji al-Otari approved on June 4, 2008 to exempt all new trademark, patent, industrial drawing and design applications from submitting the Israel Boycott Declaration requirement.

Accordingly, all new foreign and not listed on the Boycott List applicants can file their applications in Syria without the need to provide the Boycott Declaration.

The Premier’s approval came in response to a recommendation suggested by the Economic Committee in May 2008.

However, the effective date of the boycott declaration waiver was not decided by the Property Protection Department.

According to Abu-Ghazaleh Intellectual Property (AGIP), prior to this decision, applications accepted by the Registrar were referred to the Boycott Office to clear the applicant’s company name. First-time applicants with no prior clearance were required to submit the Boycott Declaration of Israel. Once such clearance was obtained, the application processed to registration.

Source: ag-IP news