| 
SWITZERLAND
EUROPE
CENTRAL / EASTERN EUROPE
EURASIA
ASIA
FURTHER TERRITORIES
|
 
General Information | Patents
of Invention
Trade & Service Marks | Industrial
Designs | Domain Names
More
General Information
Area: 10,908
sq. km.
Population:
1,825,632
inhabitants (estimated 2011).
Capital: Pristina.
Language: Albanian (official), Serbian (official), Bosniak, Turkish, Roma.
Currency: the euro is the official currency, but the Serbian dinar is also used in the Serbian-populated areas. .
GENERAL REMARKS
This province, which was under United Nations' administration (UNMIK), declared its independence on February 17, 2008. Kosovo is not a member of the U.N. and remains unrecognized by a substantial number of States worldwide. Kosovo has not yet joined WIPO or any other international IP treaty. Kosovo's government operates independently from the Serbian authorities. The local IP Office was established and became operative on November 19, 2007, enabling filing of national patent and trademark applications in Kosovo on the basis of Kosovo's Industrial Property laws.
 TOP OF PAGE
Patents of Invention
LEGAL BASIS
- The Law on Patents No. 04/L-029 was published on August 29, 2011 in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Kosovo and is in force since September 13, 2011. This new Law came into force instead of the previous Law on Patents No. 02/L-100.
- The law prescribes that the relevant by-laws shall be adopted by September 13, 2012.
MEMBERSHIP IN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS
- Kosovo is not a member of any international conventions related to intellectual property matters.
FILING REQUIREMENTS
- Specification, claims (EPO type) and abstract;
- Drawings (if any);
- Certified copy of the priority application(s), if priority is claimed;
- Power of attorney, notarization/legalization not required (may be filed subsequently).
REMARKS
Validity: issued after a formal examination and examination as to patentability and unity of the invention - valid for 20 years.
Annuities: are due for the third and each following year for patent applications and patents counting from the filing date.
Opposition: not provided for.
TOP OF PAGE
Trade and Service Marks
LEGAL BASIS
- The Law on Trademarks No. 04/L-026 was published on August 24, 2011 in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Kosovo and is in force since September 8, 2011. This new Law replaced the previous Law on Trademarks No. 02/L-54.
- The law prescribes that the relevant by-laws shall be adopted by September 8, 2012.
MEMBERSHIP IN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS
- Kosovo is not a member of any international conventions related to intellectual property matters.
FILING REQUIREMENTS
- High quality electronic sample of the mark (for device marks);
- List of goods and services, classified in accordance with the International Classification;
- Priority certificate, if priority is claimed (must be filed within three months of the filing deadline);
- Power of attorney, notarization/legalization not required (may be filed subsequently).
REMARKS
Kinds of protection: verbal, pictorial, three-dimensional and other designations, in color or their combination. Service marks are registrable.
Classification: International.
Obligation to use the registered mark: compulsory. Non-use during any five-year period after the publication date may lead to cancellation.
Duration – renewals: 10-year period after the filing date or last renewal date.
Opposition: provided for within a three-month term as of the publication of the trademark.
TOP OF PAGE
Industrial Designs
LEGAL BASIS
- The Law on Industrial Design No. 04/L-028 was published on August 22, 2011. in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Kosovo and is in force since September 6, 2011. This new Law came into force instead of the previous Law on Industrial Design No. 02/L-45.
- The law prescribes that the relevant by-laws shall be adopted by September 6, 2012.
MEMBERSHIP IN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS
- Kosovo is not a member of any international conventions related to Intellectual Property matters.
FILING REQUIREMENTS
- Representation of the design suitable for reproduction (photographs or drawings);
- Priority certificate, if priority is claimed (immediately with the application for exhibition priority or for Union priority, must be filed within three months from the filing date);
- Power of attorney, notarization/legalization not required (may be filed subsequently);
- Description of the design (optional);
- Request for deferment of publication of the registered design (optional).
REMARKS
Duration - renewals: after formal and complete examination: 25 years from the filing date. First five years of protection are paid upon an invitation of the IP Office.
Opposition: not provided for.
TOP OF PAGE
Domain Names
There are no published regulations on domain name registration under the .ks country code top-level domain name for Kosovo.
More information will be provided in a future release.
TOP OF PAGE
More
If you wish more detailed information concerning intellectual property protection in this territory please contact us or order Katzarov’s Manual on Industrial Property®.
TOP OF PAGE |
