LEGAL BASIS

• The Law on Patents No. 04/L-029, published on August 29, 2011 in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Kosovo, in force since September 13, 2011, amended by Law No. 05/L-039 of August 24, 2015.
• Administrative Instruction No. 13/2016 on the Procedure for Registration of Patents, in force since September 2, 2016.

MEMBERSHIP IN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS

• Kosovo is not a member of any international conventions related to intellectual property matters, except the Hague Apostille Convention as of July 14, 2016.

FILING REQUIREMENTS

• Specification, claims (EPO type) and abstract;
• Drawings (if any);
• Certified copy of the priority application(s), if priority is claimed;
• Power of Attorney, original or notarized copy; legalization not required (a general POA must be notarized; must be filed at application time).

REMARKS

Validity: issued after a formal examination and examination as to patentability and unity of the invention - valid for 20 years.
Annuities: are due for the third and each following year for patent applications and patents counting from the filing date.
Opposition: not provided for.

LEGAL BASIS

• The Law on Trademarks No. 04/L-026, published on August 24, 2011 in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Kosovo, in force since September 8, 2011, amended by Law No. 05/L-040 of August 24, 2015.
• Administrative Instruction No. 08/2016 on Early Examination of Applications for Protection of Trademarks, in force since July 7, 2016.
• Administrative Instruction No. 14/2016 on Trademark Registration, in force since September 7, 2016.

MEMBERSHIP IN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS

• Kosovo is not a member of any international conventions related to intellectual property matters, except the Hague Apostille Convention as of July 14, 2016.

FILING REQUIREMENTS

• High quality electronic sample of the mark (for device marks), up to 8 x 8 cm;
• List of goods and services, classified in accordance with the International Classification;
• Priority certificate, if priority is claimed (must be filed within three months of the filing deadline);
• Power of Attorney, original or notarized copy; legalization not required (a general POA must be notarized; must be filed at application time).

REMARKS

Kinds of protection: verbal, pictorial, three-dimensional and other designations, in color or their combination. Service marks are registrable.
Classification: International.
Obligation to use the registered mark: compulsory. Non-use during any five-year period after the publication date may lead to cancellation.
Duration – renewals: 10 years from the filing date, renewable every 10 years.
Opposition: provided for within three months from the publication of the trademark.

LEGAL BASIS

• The Law on Industrial Design No. 04/L-028, published on August 22, 2011 in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Kosovo, in force since September 6, 2011.
• Administrative Instruction No. 12/2016 on Industrial Design Registration, in force since August 26, 2016.

MEMBERSHIP IN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS

• Kosovo is not a member of any international conventions related to Intellectual Property matters, except the Hague Apostille Convention as of July 14, 2016.

FILING REQUIREMENTS

• Representation of the design suitable for reproduction (photographs or drawings, max. 7 different appearances);
• Priority certificate, if priority is claimed (immediately with the application for exhibition priority or for Union priority, must be filed within three months from the filing date);
• Power of Attorney, original or notarized copy; legalization not required (a general POA must be notarized; must be filed at application time);
• Description of the design (optional and up to 100 words);
• Request for deferment of publication of the registered design (optional).

REMARKS

Duration - renewals: after formal and complete examination: 25 years from the filing date.
Annuities: first five years of protection are paid upon invitation of the IP Office; thereafter, the maintenance fees are paid for 5-year periods upon owner's own initiative.
Opposition: not provided for.

There are no published regulations on domain name registration under the .ks country code top-level domain name for Kosovo.

More information will be provided in a future release.