Moldova
Moldova is a country in Eastern Europe with a high tempo of economic development and low inflation rates, inviting growth and innovation to all sectors of the market. Official implementation of electronic transactions facilitates obtaining protection and defending intellectual property rights. The national currency of Moldova is leu.
A variety of IP objects are available in Moldova:
– Inventions, through national patent applications or PCT entry (31 months)
– Trademarks, through national trademark applications or Madrid registrations
– Industrial designs, through national applications or the Hague System
– Appellations of origin and geographical indications, including applications through the Lisbon agreement
– Copyright
– Computer programs
The Moldovan Patent and Trademark Office conducts correspondence only in Moldovan (Romanian) language. Any foreign applicant needs to appoint a local Patent Attorney for handling its IP matters before the Office. The appointment can be confirmed with a copy of signed Power of Attorney.
Average examination timeframe by the Moldovan Patent and Trademark Office is about 18-20 months for inventions, and about 9-12 months for trademarks and industrial designs. After examination is successfully completed, invention applications are published for opposition for 6 months. When trademark applications are concerned, oppositions can be filed within 3 months from the date of publication of the application and within 1 month from the date of publication of the registration decision. While there are no utility models as a separate IP object in Moldova, short term patents valid for 6+4=10 years are available.
When an IP-related matter proceeds to court, they are considered first by the district court at the location of the Moldovan Patent and Trademark Office, then by the Appeal Court, and lastly, by the Supreme Court of Justice of Moldova. An attorney well-versed in the local court practice will ensure protection of the client’s best interest in any matter.
For general information on the costs, please contact us at quotes@patentica.com or info@patentica.com, and we will be happy to provide a precise calculation for your particular situation, including any unorthodox matters. If it concerns potential oppositions, litigation or other such cases that are usually based on an hourly rate, please send us a brief description of the circumstances. We will analyze the case and prepare a detailed professional estimation of associated costs.