Lithuania

GENERAL INFORMATION

Area: 65,300 sq. km.

Population: 2,628,186 (2024).

Capital: Vilnius.

Language: Lithuanian.

Currency: Euro.

 

GENERAL REMARKS

Lithuania is a part of the geopolitical region known as the Baltic States, extending along the east coast of the Baltic Sea. Located in the center of Europe, Lithuania is situated at one of the largest crossroads of the continent.

Lithuania is a member State of the European Union since May 1, 2004. On January 1, 2015, Lithuania joined the Eurozone by adopting the euro.

 

 

PATENTS OF INVENTION

LEGAL BASIS

• Patent Law of January 18, 1994, in force since February 1, 1994, with lastest amendments.

 

MEMBERSHIP IN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS

• Paris Convention, Stockholm Act, since May 22, 1994.
• Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), since July 5, 1994.
• European Patent Convention, since December 1, 2004.

 

FILING REQUIREMENTS

• Power of Attorney (no legalization), if needed;
• A description of the invention;
• One or more claims;
• Drawings (if any);
• Abstract (translation into English recommended);
• Priority document (if claimed);
• A document on the deposit of biological material in a depository institution (if applicable).

 

REMARKS

National Phase of PCT: closed. As of September 4, 2014, only the regional phase before the European Patent Office is available.

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

Annuities: are to be paid from the third year.

Opposition: not provided for.

 

 

TRADE AND SERVICE MARKS

LEGAL BASIS

• Law on Trademarks of October 10, 2000, in force since January 1, 2001, with latest amendments.

 

MEMBERSHIP IN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS

• Paris Convention, Stockholm Act, since May 22, 1994.
• Madrid Protocol, since November 15, 1997.

 

FILING REQUIREMENTS

• Power of Attorney (no legalization), if needed;
• A request for the registration of a mark and issuance of the trademark certificate, signed by the applicant or his representative;
• A document confirming priority (where appropriate).

 

REMARKS

Kinds of protection: trademarks and service marks comprising a word or device or a combination of both, two- and three-dimensional designations.

Classification: International.

Obligation to use the registered mark: in case of non-use without justifying reasons during five consecutive years, the trademark may be revoked in judicial proceedings at the request of any interested person.

Duration – renewals: 10-year period from the filing date, renewable for further periods of 10 years.

Opposition: may be filed by any interested person within three months of the publication (three months after publication in the WIPO Gazette of International Marks, for international registrations) with the Division of Appeals.

 

 

INDUSTRIAL DESIGNS

LEGAL BASIS

• Law on Designs of November 7, 2002, in force since January 1, 2003, with latest amendments.

 

MEMBERSHIP IN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS

• Paris Convention, Stockholm Act, since May 22, 1994.
• Hague Agreement, Geneva Act, since September 26, 2008.

 

FILING REQUIREMENTS

• Power of Attorney (no legalization), if needed;
• A request for the registration of a design and issuance of a design registration certificate, signed by the applicant or his representative;
• Photographs or graphic representations;
• Description of the industrial design;
• A document confirming priority (where appropriate);
• A declaration concerning designer’s authorship;
• Document confirming the transfer of the author’s rights (if applicable).

 

REMARKS

Duration – renewals: after formal examination: 5 years. Extension: four additional 5-year periods.

Opposition: has to be filed with the State Patent Bureau’s Appeals Division within three months from the date of publication. The decision of the Division of Appeals may be contested in court (final decision).

 

 

DOMAIN NAMES

LEGAL BASIS

• There is no specific legislation although some regulations on the organization and management of country code top-level domain names do exist.

 

FILING

• ccTLD: .lt
• Applicant: individuals and legal entities.
• Local presence: not required.

 

REMARKS

Duration – renewals: one year, renewable.

Uniform dispute resolution procedure: none.

 

 

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