Painting by Kole Idromeno, Albanian artist (1860-1939)

Answers to the most FAQs about intellectual property in ALBANIA

Patents

• Extension of EP is possible
• It is possible to expedite examination based on patent granted in another jurisdiction (US or EP)
• Approximate time from request of extension till grant of extension of EP is 9 months
• Software is not registrable as a patent
• Patent annuity can be paid within 6 months ahead of due date
• Grace period for patent annuity payment is 6 months
• Extract from the commercial register is required to record address and/or name change
• License agreement, assignment deed or simply executed assignment form is required to record license or assignment
• If not recorded, then license or assignment does not have legitimacy against third parties

Trademarks

• Multi class trade/service mark application is possible
• Three dimensional mark is registrable
• Single color per se is registrable as trade/service mark
• Approximate time from application till registration is 10 months
• It is not possible to expedite examination for trademark related to pharmaceutical products
• The IP Office is examining only absolute grounds and opposition is provided within 2 months following the publication
• Cancellation of trademark registration is possible
• Tolerable non use period is 3 years from date of registration or from last serious use
• Trade/service mark registration can be renewed within 6 months ahead of renewal due date
• Grace period for trade/ service mark renewal is 6 months
• Extract from commercial register is needed to record trademark owners address and/or name change
• License agreement, assignment deed or simply executed assignment form is required to record license or assignment
• If not recorded license and assignment does not have legitimacy against third parties
• Customs registration of trademark is possible providing monitoring of possible counterfeits

Country general information

• 28.748 sq km
• Country boundaries: Montenegro, Serbia, Macedonia, and Greece
• Population: 3'600'523
• Capital: Tirana
• GDP: $9.306 billion
• GDP per capita: $ 5.700
• GDP economy structure (approximate): Agriculture 24%, Industry 19%, and Services 57%