Muscat: Officials have warned against using the Sultanate Logo or the Royal Emblem without a licence, in an official statement issued on Tuesday.
Khamis bin Abdulla Al Farsi, Director General of Commerce at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has said that the Ministry has noted an increase in the use of the Sultanate logo, which is the khanjar (dagger) and two swords, as well the royal emblem, which is the crown, khanjar and two swords.
"The Ministry has recorded commercial organisations and companies which continuously use the logo and emblem on commercial products without obtaining a licence from the Ministry," Al Farsi said.
Using the logo or the emblem without licence from the Ministry is in violation of the Royal Decree number (53/2004) from the Law of the State Flag, the Emblem and the Royal Anthem.
Article 12 states, "It is prohibited to use the emblem as a commercial brand, or for the use of commercial marketing and advertising. It is also prohibited to use the emblem on jewelery, products or instruments that are produced locally, or imported, without advance permission from the Minister of Commerce and Industry."
Director General Al Farsi added that the Royal Decree has defined penalties for those in violation, as Article 15 states the fines that the Ministry would enforce on entities in violation. The Ministry would also confiscate all items in violation.
Al Farsi also said that the Ministry has taken to social media and local papers to distribute the news, and that the Ministry will take all necessary legal action towards violations.