National Phase of PCT: both under Chapter I and Chapter II: 31 months.
Validity: issued after a formal and full examination - valid for 20 years from the filing date.
Annuities: accumulated and due after the granting decision; subsequent annuities are payable after the anniversary of the filing date.
Opposition: after the publication, any person may file observations regarding the patentability of the application's object.
Kinds of protection: trademarks comprising a word or device or a combination of both, two- and three- dimensional designations. Service marks are registrable.
Classification: International.
Obligation to use the registered mark: use is obligatory within any five-year period. The public offer for use of the trademark through the press has the validity of usage.
Duration – renewals: 10-year period from the filing date, renewable for further periods of ten years.
Opposition: may be filed within three months from the date of publication in the Bulletin. The opposition period for international trademarks begins the first day of the next month after the date of publication in the WIPO Gazette of International Marks.
Duration – renewals: after formal and novelty examination: 5 years; Extension: four additional 5-year periods.
Opposition: not provided for.
Duration – renewals: one to ten years, renewable.
Uniform dispute resolution procedure: none, but an Alternative Dispute Resolution Procedure (ADRP) is available.
Area: 49,030 sq. km.
Population: 5,412,000 inhabitants (estimated 2013).
Capital: Bratislava, with 462,000 inhabitants (estimated 2012).
Language: Slovak.
Currency: Euro.
The Slovak Republic came into existence on January 1, 1993, as a result of the separation of the former Czechoslovakia. As of the same date the Slovak Patent Office was established in Bratislava and in 1995 moved to Banska Bystrica. Laws and membership in international conventions concerning protection of industrial property rights of the former Czechoslovakia remain in force in the Slovak Republic.
All former Czechoslovak patents, utility models, industrial designs and trademarks granted or pending prior to January 1, 1993, are effective in the Slovak Republic without any re-filing or re-registration. Separate applications for the Slovak Republic have to be filed after January 1, 1993. Renewal fees and annuities due for payment after December 31, 1992, are to be paid separately in the Slovak Republic if the owner of the right is interested to maintain the protection (Act of Transitional Rules No. 90/1993 effective as of April 29, 1993).
The Slovak Republic is a member of the European Union as of May 1, 2004. All Regulations are directly valid in the Slovak Republic.
If you wish more detailed information concerning intellectual property protection in this territory please contact us or order Katzarov's Manual on Industrial Property®.
KATZAROV SA
Patent & Trademark Attorneys
Geneva Business Center
Avenue des Morgines 12
1213 Petit-Lancy
Geneva
Switzerland
T +41 22 342 66 30
F +41 22 342 66 15
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