North Macedonia

GENERAL INFORMATION

Area: 25,713 sq. km.

Population: 2,135,622 (2024).

Capital: Skopje.

Language: Macedonian.

Currency: Macedonian denar.

 

 

GENERAL REMARKS

North Macedonia (previously known as the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) used to be a part of former Yugoslavia. The Republic declared its independence on September 8, 1991. On February 12, 2019 the country officially changed its name to the Republic of North Macedonia or “North Macedonia” for short, following an amendment to the Constitution.

 

 

PATENTS OF INVENTION

LEGAL BASIS

• Law on Industrial Property, in force since February 23, 2009.
• Regulation on Patent, in force since July 24, 2009.

 

MEMBERSHIP IN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS

• Paris Convention, Stockholm Act, since September 8, 1991.
• Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), since August 10, 1995.
• European Patent Convention (EPC), since January 1, 2009.

 

FILING REQUIREMENTS

• Power of Attorney (no legalization)
• Specification and abstract (to be translated)
• Drawings, 3 sets (A4);
• Priority document, if claimed, to be filed within three months from the filing date.

 

REMARKS

Validity: after formal examination – valid for 20 years from the filing date.

Annuities: are due for the third and each following year for patent applications and patents counting from the filing date.

Opposition: not provided for

 

 

TRADE AND SERVICE MARKS

LEGAL BASIS

• Law on Industrial Property, in force since February 23, 2009.
• Regulation on Trade Mark, in force since July 24, 2009.

 

MEMBERSHIP IN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS

• Paris Convention, Stockholm Act, since September 8, 1991.
• Madrid Agreement, since September 8, 1991.
• Madrid Protocol, since August 30, 2002

 

FILING REQUIREMENTS

• Power of Attorney (no legalization);
• 10 prints (not necessary for word marks), max. size: 8 x 8 cm;
• List of goods and services, grouped according to the International Classification;
• Priority document, if any.

 

REMARKS

Kinds of protection: verbal*, pictorial, three-dimensional and other designations or their combination. Service marks are registrable. (*Besides the original version, filing of word mark applications in the Cyrillic alphabet is highly recommended.)

Classification: International.

Obligation to use the registered mark: compulsory. Non-use during any five-year period after the registration date may lead to cancellation.

Duration – renewals: 10-year period after the filing date or last renewal date.

Opposition: provided for. The application is published for opposition, which should be filed within 90 days.

 

 

INDUSTRIAL DESIGNS

LEGAL BASIS

• Law on Industrial Property, in force since February 23, 2009.
• Regulation on Industrial Design, in force since July 24, 2009.

 

MEMBERSHIP IN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS

• Paris Convention, Stockholm Act, since September 8, 1991.
• Hague Agreement, Geneva Act, since March 22, 2006.

 

FILING REQUIREMENTS

• Power of Attorney (no legalization);
• Short description of the model or design, and of the novelty and purpose thereof;
• 3 sets of photographs or formal drawings;
• Priority document, if any.

 

REMARKS

Duration – renewals: after formal examination, valid for 5 years, plus four 5-year extensions of term.

Opposition: provided for, within 90 days from the publication date of the application.

 

 

DOMAIN NAMES

LEGAL BASIS

• Regulation for the organization and management of MK Macedonian top-level domain names.

 

FILING

• ccTLD: .mk
• Applicant: individuals and legal entities.
• Local presence: required.

 

REMARKS

Duration – renewals: one year, renewable.

Uniform dispute resolution procedure: none.

 

 

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