The Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC) has launched an online service to issue intellectual property rights (IPR) certificates.
Aimed at protecting intellectual property rights, the new system allows the applicants to submit requests for registration online, which will be reviewed electronically. Accordingly, applicants can visit https://services.mec.gov.qa and fill in the necessary information, attach the requested documents and pay the fees for availing the service. 
To start the process, the user should log on to the system, submit an application including details like the data of the subject to be protected and attach the mandatory documents. 
As soon as the application is approved the user will be notified. After the fees are paid, the  certificate will be sent through registered mail. According to MEC, the fees are set as follows: QR50 for students, QR100 for individuals, QR400 for educational institutes or entities, and QR500 for corporations and companies.  
The subjects included in the protection of intellectual property rights are books and similar works; verbal production such as lectures, sermons, poems and chants; theatrical works and musical plays; musical compositions, whether accompanied with words or not, dances and pantomime; audiovisual production; photos and similar subjects; applied arts works, whether handicrafts or manufactured; drawings, paintings, calligraphy, architectural designs, sculpture, topographical designs and models and similar works; and finally computer software and programmes.
The works, which are not under this protection, include official documents, whatever their original language might be, such as laws, regulations, international agreements, court verdicts, judicial decisions, daily news and methods of work and operation. 
The MEC pointed out that issuing a protection certificate has many advantages like safeguarding the owner’s financial and ethical rights, which can be transferred to the legal inheritors throughout the validity of the protection period. 
Earlier, the MEC organised a workshop for intellectual property agents and private offices dealing with the matter to introduce them to the new system.