Moldova
Moldova is a member of the Paris Convention, the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), the Madrid Agreement and Protocol for trademarks, and the Hague Agreement (Geneva Act) for industrial designs. European patent validation has been possible since November 1, 2015. Trademarks are protected for 10 years (renewable), patents for 20 years, and industrial designs for up to 25 years. The .md country code domain is open to all applicants without local presence requirements. This page covers the filing requirements, legal basis, and key deadlines for protecting intellectual property in Moldova.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Area: 33,846 sq. km.
Population: 3,599,528 (2024).
Capital: Kishinev.
Language: Romanian.
Currency: Moldovan leu.
GENERAL REMARKS
One of the ex-USSR republics, Moldova became an independent State on August 27, 1991, with its own IP Office – State Agency on Intellectual Property (AGEPI).
PATENTS OF INVENTION
LEGAL BASIS
- Law on the Protection of Inventions No. 50-XVI of March 7, 2008, in force since October 4, 2008, last amended on June 11, 2023.
MEMBERSHIP IN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS
- Paris Convention, since December 25, 1991.
- Patent Cooperation Treaty, since December 25, 1991.
- Validation of a European patent possible since November 1, 2015.
FILING REQUIREMENTS
- Power of Attorney (no legalization);
- Specification, claims and abstract (may be filed in any language, but if not Romanian, then a Romanian translation must be filed within a period of three months);
- Drawings (if designated);
- Priority document, if claimed.
REMARKS
National Phase of PCT: under Chapter I: 31 months; under Chapter II: 31 months.
Validity: short-term patent issued after a formal and preliminary examination: valid for 6 years; patent issued after full examination: valid for 20 years from the day following the filing date.
Annuities: accumulated and due after the grant of the patent; subsequent annuities are payable prior to the anniversary of the filing date.
Opposition: may be filed within six months after the publication of the official notification of grant.
TRADE AND SERVICE MARKS
LEGAL BASIS
- Law on the Protection of Trademarks No. 38-XVI, published on June 6, 2008, in force since September 6, 2008, last amended on March 24, 2023.
MEMBERSHIP IN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS
- Paris Convention, since December 25, 1991.
- Madrid Agreement, since December 25, 1991.
- Madrid Protocol, since December 1, 1997.
FILING REQUIREMENTS
- Power of Attorney (no legalization);
- A representation of the trademark;
- List of goods and services, according to the International Classification;
- Priority documents, if any.
REMARKS
Kinds of protection: trademarks and service marks (word marks, numbers, letters, digits, device marks, three-dimensional, and combinations thereof). Sound, olfactory and tactile marks are also registrable. Besides the original version, filing of word mark applications in the Cyrillic alphabet is highly recommended, Russian still being one of the parallel languages in this country.
Classification: International.
Obligation to use the registered mark: compulsory. If not used within any five-year period after the registration (or last use) date, the mark can be cancelled upon request of an interested party.
Duration – renewals: 10 years from the filing date, renewable for further periods of 10 years.
Opposition: within three months after the publication of the mark.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGNS
LEGAL BASIS
- Law on the Protection of Industrial Designs No. 161-XVI, in force since December 1, 2007, last amended on March 24, 2023.
MEMBERSHIP IN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS
- Paris Convention, since December 25, 1991.
- Hague Agreement, Geneva Act, since December 23, 2003.
FILING REQUIREMENTS
- Power of Attorney (no legalization);
- A set of photographs or graphic representations, providing a complete detailed presentation of the external appearance of the article, 3 x 3 cm in size (maximum permitted 16 x 16 cm). 4 prints are required if a black and white representation is filed (8 prints for a colored representation);
- Description, if necessary;
- Priority document, if any.
REMARKS
Duration – renewals: after formal examination: 5 years. Extension: four additional 5-year periods.
Opposition: may be filed within three months of publication of the data concerning the application (following the formal examination), and within thirty days after publication of the decision to grant the design.
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: .md
- Applicant: individuals and legal entities.
- Local presence: not required.
REMARKS
Duration – renewals: one year, renewable yearly.
Uniform dispute resolution procedure: available (ICANN UDRP model) before WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center.
Frequently Asked Questions — IP Protection in Moldova
What documents are required to register a trademark in Moldova?
To register a trademark in Moldova, the following documents are required: a Power of Attorney (no legalization), a representation of the trademark, a list of goods and services according to the International Classification, and a priority document if applicable. Filing of word mark applications in the Cyrillic alphabet is highly recommended.
Can I register a trademark in Moldova through the international Madrid System?
Moldova is a member of the Madrid Agreement (since 1991) and the Madrid Protocol (since 1997), so international registration via WIPO is also possible.
What kinds of trademarks may be registered in Moldova?
In Moldova, the following types of marks are registrable: word marks, numbers, letters, digits, device marks, three-dimensional marks, and combinations thereof. Sound, olfactory, and tactile marks are also registrable. Service marks are registrable. Besides the original version, filing of word mark applications in the Cyrillic alphabet is highly recommended.
How long is the trademark opposition period in Moldova?
In Moldova, any person may file an opposition within 3 months from the publication of the trademark application.
How long does trademark protection last in Moldova?
Trademark protection in Moldova lasts for 10 years from the filing date and can be renewed for successive 10-year periods indefinitely.
Must a trademark be used in Moldova?
Yes, use is compulsory. Non-use during any five-year period after the registration date (or last use) may lead to cancellation upon request of an interested party.
What are the routes for filing a patent in Moldova?
Moldova is a member of the Paris Convention (since 1991) and the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT, since 1991). Validation of a European patent is also possible since November 1, 2015. Filing requirements include: a Power of Attorney (no legalization), a specification with claims and abstract (in any language, with Romanian translation within 3 months), drawings if any, and a priority document if claimed. For PCT national phase entry, the deadline is 31 months under both Chapter I and Chapter II. Patents are valid for 20 years from the day following the filing date after full examination; short-term patents are valid for 6 years after formal and preliminary examination.
How long is the patent opposition period in Moldova?
In Moldova, opposition to a granted patent may be filed within 6 months after the publication of the official notification of grant.
When are patent annuities due in Moldova?
In Moldova, accumulated annuities are due after the grant of the patent. Subsequent annuities are payable prior to the anniversary of the filing date. Timely payment is essential to maintain the patent in force throughout its 20-year validity period. For current deadlines and practitioner guidance, consult Katzarov’s Manual on Industrial Property.
How do I register an industrial design in Moldova?
Industrial designs in Moldova are protected under Law No. 161-XVI (in force since December 1, 2007, last amended March 24, 2023). Filing requires: a Power of Attorney (no legalization), a set of photographs or graphic representations (3 x 3 cm, max. 16 x 16 cm — 4 prints for black and white, 8 for colored), a description if necessary, and a priority document if applicable. Moldova is a member of the Hague Agreement (Geneva Act, since 2003), allowing international registration. Protection lasts 5 years from the filing date, renewable for four additional 5-year periods (maximum 25 years).
How do I register a .md domain name?
The .md domain is Moldova’s country code top-level domain (ccTLD). Both individuals and legal entities can register, and no local presence in Moldova is required. Registration period is 1 year, renewable. The ICANN UDRP model is available before the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center.
Does the power of attorney need notarization or legalization in Moldova?
In Moldova, the Power of Attorney for trademark, patent, and design filings does not require legalization or notarization. A simply signed POA is sufficient for all IP filings with AGEPI.
Where can I search the Moldovan trademark database?
Moldova’s trademark register is maintained by the State Agency on Intellectual Property (AGEPI). Effective searching requires knowledge of Nice Classification, multilingual considerations (Romanian, Russian, Cyrillic), and interpretation of legal status codes. For comprehensive trademark searches and clearance opinions, contact Katzarov’s team.
Where can I search for patents in Moldova?
Patent records in Moldova are maintained by the State Agency on Intellectual Property (AGEPI). For professional patent searches, contact Katzarov’s team.
What is the contact information for AGEPI (Moldova’s IP Office)?
The State Agency on Intellectual Property of the Republic of Moldova (AGEPI) is located at 24/1 Andrei Doga Street, MD-2024 Chișinău, Republic of Moldova. Phone: (+373) 22 400 500. Email: office@agepi.gov.md. Website: agepi.gov.md.
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