LEGAL BASIS

• Patent Law, in force since March 1, 2007, with latest amendments in force from January 1, 2016.
• Industrial Property Institution and Procedure Law, in force from January 1, 2016.

MEMBERSHIP IN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS

• Paris Convention, Stockholm Act, since September 7, 1993.
• Patent Cooperation Treaty, since September 7, 1993.
• European Patent Convention, since July 1, 2005.

FILING REQUIREMENTS

• Specification with claims and an abstract in English, German, French or Russian for translation into Latvian - 1 copy;
• Drawings (if applicable);
• Priority document (if applicable);
• A document on the deposit of the microorganism in an international depository authority (if applicable).

REMARKS

National Phase of PCT: under Chapter I: 31 months; under Chapter II: 31 months.
Validity: issued after formal examination - valid for 20 years from the filing date.
Annuities: are to be paid after the grant of the patent.
Opposition: none.

LEGAL BASIS

• Law on Trademarks and Indications of Geographical Origin, in force since July 15, 1999, with latest amendments in force from January 1, 2016.
• Industrial Property Institution and Procedure Law, in force from January 1, 2016.

MEMBERSHIP IN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS

• Paris Convention, Stockholm Act, since September 7, 1993.
• Madrid Agreement, since January 1, 1995.
• Madrid Protocol, since January 5, 2000.

FILING REQUIREMENTS

• The mark (word mark or label) and the list of goods for which the mark should be protected;
• 10 copies (size: 5 x 5; 5 x 10; 8 x 8 cm); images in electronic format accepted;
• Priority document, if any.

REMARKS

Kinds of protection: verbal, pictorial, or a combination of both, two- and three-dimensional designations. Collective marks and service marks are registrable.
Classification: International. 
Obligation to use the registered mark: compulsory. Non-use during any five-year period of effective registration allows any interested party to require cancellation of the registration.
Duration - renewals: 10 years from the filing date, renewable for further 10-year periods.
Opposition: possible within three months from the publication date.

LEGAL BASIS

• Law on Industrial Designs, in force since November 18, 2004, with latest amendments in force from January 1, 2016.
• Industrial Property Institution and Procedure Law, in force from January 1, 2016.

MEMBERSHIP IN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS

• Paris Convention, Stockholm Act, since September 7, 1993.
• Hague Agreement, Geneva Act, since July 26, 2005.

FILING REQUIREMENTS

• Information identifying the applicant and the designer;
• A representation of the industrial design in triplicate;
• Priority document (may be filed within three months);
• Deed of Assignment, only if the applicant is not the same as the one shown in the priority document.

REMARKS

Duration - renewals: after formal examination: 5 years. Extension: four additional 5-year periods.
Opposition: third parties may contest the registration of a design before the Board of Appeal, within three months from the date of publication in the Official Gazette.

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

REMARKS

Duration – renewals: one to five years, renewable.
Uniform dispute resolution procedure: none.