Who may apply for copyright protection in Bahrain

Article 13 refers to the “rightful party.” A deposit may therefore be filed by:

·   the author;

·   the owner of the economic rights (or copyright owner)

·   a successor in title or assignee

·   a natural or legal person to whom rights belong under an employment, commissioning or other agreement or

·   an authorized representative acting under the power of attorney.

Where the applicant is a company and the work was created by an individual designer, author, employee or contractor, the filing should include evidence establishing the company’s title. Article 36 may vest economic rights in the owner or commissioning party where the work results from a contract or obligation involving full dedication of effort, unless otherwise agreed in writing. A clear written assignment or agreement remains advisable, particularly for foreign applicants and commissioned logos.

Foreign applicants

Foreign-owned works may qualify for copyright protection in Bahrain under both the national legal framework and Bahrain’s international treaty obligations. While a historical government response to WIPO indicated that foreign applicants without legal residence in Bahrain could not register or record works, no current published legislation or official guidance confirming this restriction was identified. During a recent meeting with the Ministry of Information – Directorate of Media Administration, Kingdom of Bahrain, the Directorate confirmed that foreign applicants, including those without residence in Bahrain, are permitted to file applications for the deposit and registration of their copyrighted works. The Directorate explained that this approach is consistent with Bahrain’s obligations under the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, which establishes the principle of national treatment, requiring member states to afford authors from other member countries the same protection granted to their own nationals. Accordingly, foreign applicants may file copyright deposit applications without establishing residency in Bahrain. Nevertheless, documentary requirements, including powers of attorney, corporate evidence, chain-of-title documents, authentication or legalization formalities, and certified Arabic translations, may still apply depending on the circumstances of the filing and should be confirmed with the Directorate on a case-by-case basis.

Although direct filing is permitted, it is recommended that applicants file through a licensed lawyer or authorized agent to facilitate communication and follow-up with the Ministry.

Process for filing copyright deposits in Bahrain

The Ministry has issued internal administrative decisions establishing a temporary filing procedure pending the launch of the electronic copyright registration system.

Electronic Copyright Portal

·   The Ministry is currently developing an electronic portal for copyright registration.

·   The portal is expected to become operational by the end of October.

·   Once launched, all copyright applications and related procedures will be submitted and processed electronically through the portal.

Temporary Filing Procedure

Until the electronic portal becomes operational:

All copyright applications must be submitted by email. Ms. Mariam Al Omran has been designated as the officer responsible for receiving and processing copyright applications.

·   Email: mariam.alomran@info.gov.bh

Accordingly, the temporary filing process may be summarized as follows:

1.  Classification of the copyright work and preparation of the application – The work is classified according to its nature, such as a written work, artistic work, work of applied art, photograph, audiovisual work, musical work, sound recording, software or database. Before filing, an email should be sent to Ms. Mariam Al Omran with A soft copy/PDF of the copyrighted work to confirm the specific documentary requirements, including any authentication or legalization formalities applicable to the relevant category of work. The application, together with a copy of the work, the applicant’s details, and the documents evidencing ownership, should then be prepared.

2.  Filing of the copyright deposit application – The application is submitted electronically through email to the Ministry of Information – Directorate of Media Administration through the responsible officer’s email (mariam.alomran@info.gov.bh). Upon submission, the Directorate provides within three working days a dedicated electronic link through which the applicant may monitor the status of the application. The filing should include the application form, a copy or representation of the work, and any supporting documents, translations, and applicable official fees confirmed by the Directorate..

3.  Formal examination – The Directorate conducts a formal examination of the application to verify the category of the copyrighted work; the completeness of the required documents; and any supporting evidence of use, where applicable. If additional documents or actions are required, the applicant will be notified during this period. This examination is limited to the formal completeness of the application and does not extend to a substantive assessment of the work. This procedure reflects the Directorate’s current administrative practice rather than an express statutory requirement.

4.  Acceptance and entry in the copyright register – Once the application satisfies the applicable formal requirements, the work is deposited and entered in the copyright register maintained under Article 13.

5.  Issuance of the deposit or registration certificate – Article 13 provides for registration/deposit, but I could not identify a publicly available provision expressly stating that a “certificate” must be issued. Nevertheless, the Ministry of Information – Directorate of Media Administration has confirmed that, upon successful completion of the formal examination and acceptance of the application, an official deposit certificate is issued as part of its administrative practice..

6. Timeframes – Neither the Copyright Law nor the published implementing legislation prescribes statutory time limits for examining copyright deposit applications or issuing the deposit certificate. However, the Ministry of Information – Directorate of Media Administration has confirmed that, in practice, the examination process and issuance of the deposit certificate are generally completed within 3 to 15 days, provided that the application is complete and all required documents have been duly submitted.

7. Publication – The Ministry is not responsible for publishing the copyrighted work. Publication remains the responsibility of: the copyright owner; or the publishing house responsible for the work.

Article 13 contemplates that a ministerial decision would regulate these procedural matters. However, no such ministerial decision appears to have been published. Accordingly, in practice, these procedures are administered in accordance with the Ministry of Information’s internal regulations and administrative practices.

General documents required

Status of this checklist: A historical Bahrain government response to WIPO identified a completed form, identification or commercial-registration evidence, a copy of the work, the fee and a power of attorney where the applicant differs from the owner. However, during a recent meeting with the Ministry of Information – Directorate of Media Administration, the Directorate clarified that the applicant should initially submit a soft copy (PDF) of the work, together with the available supporting documents corresponding to the nature of the work. If the filing relates to a specific type of request or category of work, an email should first be sent to the officer responsible, Ms. Mariam Al Omran, to identify the exact documentary requirements applicable to that particular filing. Accordingly, any additional authentication, legalization, or certified Arabic translation requirements should be confirmed with the Directorate on a case-by-case basis before submission. All the required documents are submitted in soft copy; however, the Ministry may request a copy of the original documents for verification.

Information required

A. Applicant information

·   Full legal name and applicant type (individual or legal)

·   Nationality or country of incorporation.

·   Legal status and corporate form, where applicable

·   Registered and correspondence addresses.

·   Telephone number and email address.

·   Commercial-registration or incorporation number, where applicable.

·   Name, title and authority of the signatory.

·   Basis on which the applicant owns the copyright (e.g., author, assignee, successor, employer, or other rights holder).

B. Author information

·   Full legal name, nationality and address.

·   Passport or national-identification number.

·   Role in creating the work.

·   Whether the work was created independently, in employment, under commission or jointly.

·   Details of all co-authors and their respective contributions.

·   Whether the author retained any economic rights.

C. Ownership information

·   Whether the author and applicant are the same person.

·   Basis and date of acquisition of economic rights, where the applicant is not the author.

·   Date and parties to any assignment, commissioning or employment agreement.

·   Scope of the transfer, including rights, territory, duration and authority to deposit the work.

·   Details of any previous transfer, licence, security interest or other transaction.

D. Information concerning the work

·   Title and category of the work.

·   Brief description and language, where applicable.

·   Date and place of creation or completion.

·   Whether the work has been published or disclosed.

·   Date and country of first publication, if applicable.

·   Publisher or producer details, if applicable.

·   Details of any previous deposit or registration.

·   Details of prior versions and pre-existing material.

·   Confirmation that any third-party material is authorized.

E. Filing-specific information

·   Whether the work is filed in colour, black and white, or both.

·   Whether different versions are intended to be covered.

·   Requested confidentiality and the Ministry’s handling arrangements for deposited material, to be confirmed before sensitive content is submitted.

·   Whether a certified or authenticated certificate is required.

·   Details of the local representative.

Additional requirements by type of work

The category-specific lists below are suggested supporting materials for preparing a complete and defensible filing. They have not been verified as official category-by-category Ministry requirements. The historical Bahrain response to WIPO stated that the same registration or recordation process applied across different types of works and related-rights subject matter.

1. Logos, graphic designs, drawings and two-dimensional artistic works

·   a clear, high-resolution colour reproduction of the final work;

·   a black-and-white reproduction where the applicant also wishes to identify a monochrome version;

·   the title or name assigned to the work;

·   a brief description of the visual elements and composition;

·   dimensions or proportions, where relevant;

·   the designer’s details;

·   the date and place of creation;

·   the date and place of first publication or use, if any; and

·   the agreement or other document establishing the applicant’s ownership where the applicant is not the designer.

Practical note: Only the final version intended to be covered should ordinarily be submitted. Materially different versions may be treated as separate works or deposits.

2. Applied-art works, product designs, packaging artwork, architecture and three-dimensional works

·   colour photographs or renderings showing the complete work;

·   images from sufficient angles to show all material features;

·   technical drawings, elevations or plans where relevant;

·   a written explanation identifying the artistic, rather than purely functional, elements;

·   dimensions and materials, where applicable; and

·   details identifying the designer and rights owner.

3. Written and literary works

·   the complete manuscript or final written work;

·   a title page identifying the work and author;

·   number of pages and language;

·   publication details, if published;

·   publisher and printer details, where applicable;

·   edition number and completion date; and

·   details of the original work and translator if the work is a translation.

4. Photographic works

·   high-resolution copies of the photographs;

·   a title or identifying number for each photograph;

·   photographer details;

·   date and location of creation;

·   publication details, where applicable; and

·   assignment or employment documentation where the applicant is not the photographer.

5. Musical works and lyrics

·   the musical score;

·   lyrics, where applicable;

·   an audio recording;

·   names and roles of the composer, lyricist, arranger and performers;

·   date of composition and recording;

·   publisher or producer details; and

·   agreements establishing ownership of the relevant rights.

6. Sound recordings

·   the complete audio recording in the accepted medium;

·   title and duration;

·   recording date;

·   producer and performer details;

·   details of the underlying musical or literary works; and

·   producer, performer and author agreements or permissions.

7. Audiovisual and cinematographic works

·   a complete copy of the audiovisual work;

·   title, duration and language;

·   script or screenplay;

·   production and publication details;

·   credits identifying the relevant contributors; and

·   agreements establishing the producer’s ownership or authorization.

8. Computer programs and databases

·   identification and description of the program or database;

·   version number and completion date;

·   technical description and principal functions;

·   only the software, source-code extract or other technical material specifically requested or accepted by the Ministry; do not submit complete confidential source code until the required scope, medium and confidentiality arrangements are confirmed in writing;

·   screenshots and user documentation, where relevant;

·   database structure and selection or arrangement information;

·   developer details; and

·   employment, development or assignment agreements establishing ownership.

Official Fees

At the filing stage, no official fees are payable.

If the application is accepted, the Ministry will issue:

·   an Acceptance Notice; and

·   an order to settle the registration fees of BHD 25, electronically.

Additional Fees:

According to the Ministry’s current administrative practice, the registration fee generally ranges from BHD 500 to BHD 2,000, depending on factors such as the type of work, the required storage capacity, the number of email accounts or related technical specifications, and any additional requirements. Applicants may be requested to provide further details regarding the work to enable the Ministry to determine the applicable fee.

Payment methods include:

Payment may be made through:

·   BenefitPay (for local payments); or

·   Bank transfer (IBAN) (for payments made from outside Bahrain).

Objections and Appeals

The applicable legislation and current administrative practice do not provide a formal administrative objection or appeal procedure against the issuance of a copyright registration (deposit) certificate.

Where a dispute arises regarding ownership, validity, or infringement of copyright, the available remedies include:

·   Submitting a complaint to the Inspection Department of the Ministry of Information, which is responsible for monitoring compliance with copyright legislation; and/or

·   Initiating proceedings before the competent Bahraini courts.

Following the submission of a complaint, the Ministry may assign an inspector to conduct an inspection and prepare an official inspection report (إثبات حالة), documenting the factual circumstances observed. Such report may serve as supporting evidence in subsequent judicial proceedings but does not constitute a final determination of the parties’ rights.

Copyright Infringement

Copyright infringement is generally assessed by comparing the protected work with the allegedly infringing work to determine whether substantial similarities exist.

Evidence submitted in support of an infringement claim may include:

·   Copies of the original copyrighted work;

·   Copies of the allegedly infringing work;

·   Digital or electronic evidence;

·   Documentary evidence demonstrating ownership, creation, publication, or use; and

·   Any other relevant supporting materials.

Where criminal infringement is alleged, a complaint may be filed with the Public Prosecution, which may appoint a specialized expert to examine the works and prepare a technical report assessing the extent of similarity before deciding whether to proceed with the criminal investigation.

Practical Enforcement Considerations

As a practical matter, copyright enforcement is generally more effective where the protected work has been commercially exploited, published, or otherwise made available to the public, as evidence of ownership, use, and infringement is often easier to establish.

Where a work has never been commercially used, published, or publicly disclosed, detecting and proving infringement may be more challenging. Although copyright protection subsists regardless of commercial exploitation, the absence of public use may present practical evidentiary difficulties during enforcement proceedings.

Important procedural qualification

Bahrain has a clear statutory basis for voluntary copyright deposit. As of 30 July 2026, the public sources reviewed did not reveal a comprehensive current online Ministry manual, unified application form, category-specific filing specifications or current public fee schedule. This search result does not prove that no internal, counter-service or separately issued instructions exist. The procedural information in this guide therefore combines the applicable legislation, WIPO’s identification of the competent authority, a historical Bahrain government response to WIPO and recent local filing experience. Applicant eligibility, filing route, current form, power-of-attorney and chain-of-title formalities, apostille or legalization, Arabic translations, work-copy format and quantity, confidentiality, official fees and processing periods should be reconfirmed in writing with the Directorate of Media Administration for each filing.

Official and supporting online sources

·   Bahrain Legislation and Legal Opinion Commission – Law No. 22 of 2006

·   Law No. 22 of 2006 on the Protection of Copyright and Neighboring Rights (as amended up to Law No. 5 of 2014), Bahrain, WIPO Lex

·   WIPO Lex

·   Law No. 12 of 2008 on Amendments to Article 13 of Law No. 22 of 2006 on the Protection of Copyright and Neighbouring Rights, Bahrain, WIPO Lex

·   Law No. 3 of 2011 on Amendments to Law on Trademarks and Law on Copyright, Bahrain, WIPO Lex

·   Law No. 5 of 2014 on Amendments to Certain Provisions of Law No. 22 of 2006 on the Protection of Copyright and Neighboring Rights, Bahrain, WIPO Lex

·   Directory IP Offices

·   Decree-Law No. 47 of 2002 on the Organization of the Press, Printing and Publishing, Bahrain, WIPO Lex

·   https://www.wipo.int/documents/d/copyright/docs-en-registration-replies-bahrain.pdf

Related Alyafi IP Group resources

Bahrain country insights

Intellectual property protection services

Contact Alyafi IP Group

Frequently Asked Questions About Copyright Registration in Bahrain

Is copyright registration mandatory in Bahrain?

No. Copyright protection arises automatically when an original literary, artistic or scientific work is created. Deposit or registration is not a condition for protection. The procedure is more accurately described as a voluntary copyright deposit and recordal.

Which authority handles copyright deposits in Bahrain?

The competent authority is the Ministry of Information – Directorate of Media Administration, Kingdom of Bahrain. WIPO’s IP-office directory uses the label “Bahrain Copyright Office”; the guide does not treat this as a confirmed formal internal department title.

Who can apply for copyright deposit in Bahrain?

A deposit may be filed by the author; the owner of the economic rights; a successor in title or assignee; a natural or legal person to whom rights belong under an employment, commissioning or other agreement; or an authorized representative acting under a power of attorney. Where a company is the applicant, evidence establishing its title should be included.

Can a foreign applicant file without residence in Bahrain?

The Directorate confirmed during the meeting described in this guide that foreign applicants, including those without residence in Bahrain, are permitted to file copyright deposit applications. Powers of attorney, corporate evidence, chain-of-title documents, authentication or legalization formalities and certified Arabic translations should still be confirmed on a case-by-case basis.

What documents are generally required for a Bahrain copyright deposit?

The general checklist includes the completed application, a power of attorney where applicable, identification documents, corporate documents where the applicant is a company, assignment or chain-of-title evidence where the applicant is not the author, a complete copy or representation of the work, and certified Arabic translations where required. The exact documentary requirements should be confirmed with the Directorate before submission.

How long does copyright deposit in Bahrain take?

According to the Directorate, the certificate is generally issued within 3 to 15 days for complete applications. This is an administrative estimate rather than a legally binding deadline and should be reconfirmed for each filing.

How long does copyright protection last in Bahrain?

For literary and artistic works generally, the economic-rights term is the author’s lifetime plus 70 years, beginning on the first day of the calendar year following the year of death, except where another rule applies. The applicable term depends on the type and ownership structure of the work. Authors’ moral rights are perpetual, non-prescribable and inalienable.

Does a Bahrain copyright deposit need renewal?

According to the Directorate’s confirmation reported in this guide, a copyright deposit remains valid indefinitely and is not subject to renewal or annual maintenance fees. This is distinct from the economic-rights protection term, which depends on the type and ownership structure of the work.

How much does copyright deposit in Bahrain cost?

Official fees should be reconfirmed in writing with the Directorate of Media Administration for each filing. The Official Fees section sets out the amounts and payment methods reported in this guide; the applicable charges and any additional requirements should be confirmed for the particular work.

Can applications be filed through an electronic copyright portal?

The guide describes a temporary email-filing procedure pending the launch of the electronic copyright registration system. The current filing route, application form and submission requirements should be reconfirmed with the Directorate for each filing.

Does the deposit certificate conclusively prove copyright ownership?

No. The resulting record may support evidence concerning the identity of the deposited work, the claimant and the date of deposit, but it does not conclusively establish originality, authorship, ownership or non-infringement.

What should be prepared for a logo or graphic-design deposit?

The suggested supporting materials include a clear, high-resolution colour reproduction, a black-and-white reproduction where the applicant wishes to identify a monochrome version, the title, a description, the designer’s details, creation and first-publication or use information, and ownership evidence where the applicant is not the designer. These are suggested supporting materials, not verified official category-by-category Ministry requirements.

What should be confirmed before depositing software or a database?

Only the software, source-code extract or other technical material specifically requested or accepted by the Ministry should be submitted. Do not submit complete confidential source code until the required scope, medium and confidentiality arrangements are confirmed in writing. The category-specific materials in this guide are suggested supporting materials, not verified official Ministry requirements.

Does a work have to be commercially used or published to be protected?

Copyright protection subsists regardless of commercial exploitation. Where a work has never been commercially used, published or publicly disclosed, detecting and proving infringement may be more challenging. Those are practical evidentiary difficulties, not a condition for copyright protection.

Appendix 1: Copyright deposit submission requirements matrix

The category-specific lists below are suggested supporting materials for preparing a complete and defensible filing. They have not been verified as official category-by-category Ministry requirements. The historical Bahrain response to WIPO stated that the same registration or recordation process applied across different types of works and related-rights subject matter.

Contact our Bahrain Team

For assistance with copyright protection, filing requirements or enforcement in Bahrain, contact Alyafi IP Group to discuss your work and the support you need.

Email our Bahrain team — bahrain@alyafi-ip.com

Contact us | Visit Alyafi IP Group

Follow Alyafi IP Group on LinkedIn