Patent approvals in Q1 surge 340%; trademark applications see sharp decline

Kuwait’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry has reported a dramatic surge in patent approvals during the first quarter of 2025, granting 22 patents — a 340 percent increase compared to just five approvals in the same period last year. Of the total, one patent was granted to an individual and 21 were awarded to companies. Additionally, 3,013 existing patents were renewed during the quarter.

Despite the jump in approvals, the number of new patent applications submitted saw a slight decline of 5 percent, falling from 156 in Q1 2024 to 148 this year. Individuals accounted for just 8 of these submissions, with companies filing the remaining 140, reports Al-Rai daily.

The Patents Department also processed several related administrative actions during the same period. It corrected, amended, or added to 12 corporate patent applications, transferred ownership for 10 corporate patents, received one new patent application, and registered a temporary protection application for an individual in March. Overall, the department handled 194 transactions in the first quarter — a 20.5 percent rise compared to 161 in Q1 2024.

While patent activity grew, trademark operations experienced a significant decline. Trademark registration applications plummeted by 66.6 percent, dropping from 9,315 in the first three months of 2024 to just 3,109 in the same period of 2025. Renewal requests also fell by 4.8 percent, reaching 1,663 compared to 1,748 the previous year.

Objections to trademark registrations decreased by 19.2 percent, down to 80 from 99. Grievances filed against decisions to suspend or reject trademark registrations also saw a steep 61.7 percent drop, falling from 47 cases last year to 18 this year. Trademark and intellectual property publications declined slightly by 5.1 percent, from 2,699 to 2,561.

In terms of new services, the Trademarks Department began accepting collective trademark registration applications in the first quarter, receiving two submissions over the three-month period. The department also issued 1,818 trademark renewals and granted 52 licenses.

In total, the Brand Management Department executed 18,606 transactions during the first quarter of 2025 — an increase of 33.77 percent or 4,698 transactions compared to 13,908 during the same period in 2024.

Registering trademarks and patents plays a crucial role in protecting the intellectual property of businesses and inventors. It grants legal rights to act against counterfeiting and unauthorized use.

The Trademarks Department monitors registered marks through its judicial police, conducting inspection campaigns and investigating complaints to uncover counterfeit goods and verify the authenticity of brands.

Since the start of 2025, the Ministry of Commerce has stepped up inspection campaigns targeting shops and companies in an effort to clamp down on fake goods and protect consumers from commercial fraud. These efforts aim to prevent the spread of counterfeit, low-quality, and non-original products that can damage both consumer trust and the commercial reputation of brand owners.

Brand protection remains a cornerstone of a competitive market, as it enhances product credibility, supports promotional efforts, and helps companies differentiate themselves in terms of price and quality.