The Patent Office within the Directorate for the Protection of Commercial and Industrial Property at the Ministry of Industry, Internal Trade, and Consumer Protection plays a pivotal role in safeguarding inventors' rights by examining and registering patent applications and providing them with legal and technical advice, thereby encouraging innovation, scientific research, and technological development in Syria.
The head of the office, Nasreen Aql, told the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) on Thursday that the office is responsible for receiving and examining patent applications, noting that the decision to grant a patent is issued exclusively by the Minister. She added that the office provides necessary advice to inventors and applicants to help them prepare and draft their applications, either directly or through their agents.
In the same context, Aql pointed out that applications must be prepared according to the approved format, which includes six or seven paragraphs stipulated by law. She noted that the office assists applicants in meeting these requirements, particularly in drafting the claims that define the legal scope of the invention covered by the patent.
Conditions for Granting a Patent
Aql explained that the examination process begins with formal and legal scrutiny, followed by substantive examination based on local and global databases and specialized patent websites to verify that the invention meets the conditions for granting, which are absolute novelty at the level of Syria and the world, an inventive step, and industrial applicability.
She emphasized the necessity of these conditions being met collectively in each claim under which the inventor seeks protection for their invention. She noted that failure to meet the novelty condition leads to the rejection of the application after the competent committee studies it to ensure the absence of previous applications or inventions.
Statistics and Free Services
Aql stated that the number of patents granted since the beginning of 2026 reached 33, covering various fields including dentistry, machinery, mechanical engineering, physics, nanomaterials, civil engineering, and others. She stressed that the office provides free assistance services to inventors, especially students, via email and the "WhatsApp" application.
She added that the imposed fees are symbolic and aim to support inventors and encourage innovation. She clarified that the legal protection period for a patent is 20 years, compared to 10 years for a utility model. Both types grant their owners rights that allow them to use the innovation and prevent others from using, exploiting, selling, or exporting it without their consent.
Distinguishing Between Patent and Marketing
Aql affirmed that patents are considered intangible assets owned by the inventor, stressing the need to distinguish between obtaining a patent and allowing the product to be launched in the market. She explained that a patent represents a negative right that allows the owner to prevent others from using the invention, but it does not exempt them from obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals to market the product.
The Directorate for the Protection of Commercial and Industrial Property is responsible for registering intellectual property rights in Syria, including trademarks, patents, designs, and industrial models, and oversees the implementation of approved procedures to protect these rights in accordance with legal standards.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
Comments (0)