Trademark Registration in North Macedonia
Effective trademark protection allows avoiding problems and potential losses especially in cases of infringement or/and unfair competition by third parties. To ensure respect for the trademark rights, registration of trademarks is paramount; although it is not a straightforward process, assistance of an experienced and highly qualified trademark attorney will ensure successful prosecution of a trademark application.
The legal framework for trademark protection in North Macedonia is administered by the State Office of Industrial Property (SOIP) and is designed to align with international standards. Securing a trademark in North Macedonia provides exclusive rights within the territory and serves as a vital tool for brand enforcement.
Before submitting a trademark application, it is recommended but not obligatory to conduct an official trademark search. This search identifies existing trademark registrations and pending trademark applications that may conflict with your mark.
The official trademark search with the stamp of the State Office is available within 7-10 business days.
A declaration of trademark use is not required.
A trademark is valid for 10 years from the date of application filing.
A registered mark is subject to cancellation by an interested party if it has not been used for 5 consecutive years starting from the registration date.
The trademark registration must be renewed every 10 years to maintain exclusive rights, allowing for perpetual protection if maintained properly.
Application for renewal can be filed starting 12 months prior to the expiration date. If the deadline is missed, the law allows for a 9-month grace period to renew the mark. If renewed within the first 3 months of the grace period, additional 25% of the official fee is applied. If renewed between months 4 and 9, additional 100% of the official fee is applied.
Required Documents: signed Power of Attorney. Notarization/legalization is not required.
Required Documents:
– simply signed Power of Attorney with the new address (for recordal of the address change only);
– Documents confirming the change of the company address/name, i.e. where the company address/name is mentioned in the Registration Certificate and the present one is indicated. This could be a company charter where such amendments are reflected or an Extract from the Trade Register. The documents should be filed in original or a notarized copy of the documents could be filed as well. If the document is not in Macedonian, a certified translation is also required.