The definitions are provided in Articles 1 and 2 of the draft Law on Patents and Utility Models. These two Articles are reproduced below:
Article 1
An invention is patentable under this Law if it is new, involves an inventive step and is industrially applicable, whether it is related to new industrial products - imported or locally - or new industrial processes or to a new application to known industrial processes.
A patent shall be granted independently of any modification, enhancement or addition to a patent previously granted on an invention in accordance with the provisions of this Law.
Article 2
a) An invention shall be deemed to be new if it is within prior art which includes all that has been disclosed to the public in Bahrain or abroad , in tangible form or orally or use or any other way sufficient to disclose the particulars of the invention prior to
filing an application for the patent .
For the purpose of this paragraph, disclosure to the public of the invention shall not be taken into consideration if it occurred within twelve months preceding the filing date as a result of displaying the invention in national or international exhibitions in accordance with the rules and requirements determined under a Ministerial regulation issued in pursuance to this Law. Moreover, disclosure which takes place during the same period shall not be taken into consideration if it occurred by reason of or in consequence of acts committed by the applicant or his predecessor in title or of an abuse committed by a third party with regard to the applicant or his predecessor in title.
b) An invention shall be considered as involving an inventive step if, having regard to the prior art relevant to the invention, it would not have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art.
c) A patent shall be considered industrially applicable if it can be applied in agriculture, fishery, handicrafts, services or any field of industry in its broadest sense.
