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CENTRAL / EASTERN EUROPE
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Area: 14,026 sq. km. GENERAL REMARKS Montenegro is a small mainly mountainous country with a beautiful Adriatic coast, surrounded by Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia and Albania. Montenegro was first mentioned as a state in the 15th century when the Crnojevic dynasty began to rule the Serbian principality of Zeta. Despite continuous pressures, Montenegro was able to maintain its independence from the Ottoman Empire during the two following centuries. From the 16th to 19th centuries, Montenegro became an orthodox theocracy governed by bishop princes. After World War I, Montenegro was included within the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, which became the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1929. At the end of World War II, it became one of the six republics of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. When it dissolved in 1992, Montenegro remained in the federation with Serbia, first as the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and, after 2003, in the Union of Serbia and Montenegro. On May 21, 2006, as a result of a referendum, Montenegro voted independence, which was formally declared on June 3, 2006. Montenegro was one of the less developed republics of the former Yugoslavia. Apart from some not very developed industry mainly based on the bauxite and forest natural sources, and recently commerce, tourism has always played an essential part in the economy. Membership in International Conventions : the Republic of Montenegro has become a member of WIPO, joined the Paris Convention, the Madrid Agreement and Madrid Protocol, PCT, as well as other international conventions and treaties previously signed by the former Yugoslavia and/or Serbia and Montenegro (they all entered into force as of June 3, 2006). The Industrial Property Laws of the former Union of Serbia and Montenegro, i.e. Patent Law, Trademark Law, Law on the Protection of Models and Designs, and Law on the Protection of Geographic Indications of Origin of July 2004, with the amendments of January 1, 2005, have been taken over for the territory of Montenegro, as a temporary solution until the appropriate national laws are drafted. The corresponding regulations defining the re-validation of the IP rights applied for in Serbia and Montenegro before June 3, 2006, are being prepared. The Patent Office of Montenegro , which will be a part of the Ministry for Economy, has not yet been established, so that filing of new applications and/or re-registration of the former Serbia and Montenegro industrial property rights is not yet possible. The creation of the national Patent Office is expected in the course of 2007.
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®. |
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