Moldova News Archives
January 27, 2012
Moldova Denounces Eurasian Patent Convention
Moldova submitted a notice of denunciation of the Eurasian Patent Convention (EAPC) on October 26, 2011. The denunciation will take effect on April 26, 2012.
All international applications filed on or after April 26, 2012 will include the designation of Moldova only for national patents and not for Eurasian patents. The Eurasian Patent Office, situated in Moscow, will no longer handle international applications filed by Moldovan nationals and residents. The applicants will submit documents to either the Moldovan PTO or WIPO’s International Bureau.
The denunciation will not affect the already granted Eurasian patents or applications designating Moldova filed before April 26, 2012.
The EAPC, in force as of August 12, 1995, is an international patent law treaty ratified by Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.
For more information, please contact Masa Lopicic at our Balkan Regional Office.
Source: WIPO, PTC newsletter
June 21, 2011
Moldovan Police Put End to Fake Newspaper Scam
Last month the Moldovan police identified a network of infringers who had been illegally producing and distributing fake copies of Ziarul de Garda and Timpul, two leading newspapers in Moldova. The infringers allegedly intended to manipulate the public opinion ahead of the June 5, 2011 elections by publishing negative articles about the pro-Western ruling coalition.
Gheorghe Malic, the head of the criminal investigation team, said that two Ukrainians suspected of being involved in the infringement have been arrested. The police believe a political party is behind the fake newspaper productions, but they have not revealed any names yet.
Alina Radu, the head of Ziarul de Garda, is urging the police to reveal the name of the political party behind the scheme, stressing that the fake newspapers damaged the reputation of the real ones and infringed their trademarks and copyrights.
For more information, please contact Masa Lopicic at our Balkan Regional Office.
Source: Southeast European Times, South East Europe Media Organization (SEEMO); Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)
May 26, 2011
Change in Individual Fees Under Madrid Protocol, Hague Agreement for Moldova
New individual fees under both the Madrid Protocol and the Hague Agreement concerning international applications designating Moldova, will enter into force on May 28 and June 1, 2011 respectively.
As of May 28, designations made in the international application or subsequent to the international registration will cost CHF 307 (EUR 245; USD 348) for one class of goods or services and CHF 64 (EUR 50; USD 72) for each additional class. For a collective mark, the fees for Moldova will be CHF 370 (EUR 294; USD 420) for one class and CHF 64 (EUR 50; USD 72) for each additional class.
Renewals for one class will cost CHF 319 (EUR 253; USD 362) and CHF 64 (EUR 50; USD 72) for each additional class, whereas the fees for collective mark renewals will be CHF 511 (EUR 406; USD 580) for one class and CHF 64 (EUR 50; USD 72) for each additional class.
New individual fees for registration of international designs under the Hague Agreement with respect to Moldova will enter into force on June 1. To file an international design application designating Moldova will cost CHF 89 (EUR 70; USD 100) for one design and CHF 9 (EUR 7; USD 10) for each additional design. The renewal fee for one design will be CHF 128 (EUR 102; USD 145) and for each additional design CHF 13 (EUR 10; USD 14).
The Madrid Protocol regulates the international registration of marks whereas the Hague Agreement regulates the international registration of industrial designs. Both are administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
For more information, please contact Masa Lopicic at our Balkan Regional Office.
Source: WIPO
Moldovan Authorities Press Charges against Torrent Website Administrator
The attorney general’s office in Moldova has recently filed a copyright infringement suit against a torrent website administrator for illegally distributing protected artwork, music and movies.
Following a complaint received from the Moldovan association of phonogram and videogram producers, the authorities located the computer that hosted the infringing website and identified the administrator.
The total infringement damages are estimated at EUR 21,761 (USD 31,015). The case is ongoing.
For more information, please contact Masa Lopicic at our Balkan Regional Office.
Source: Moldovan IPO
December 21, 2010
Moldova New Copyright Law in Force as of January 1, 2011
A new Law on Copyright and Related Rights, No. 139/2010, will enter into force on January 1, 2011 in Moldova. It will replace the existing Law on Copyright and Related Rights, No. 293-XIII, which entered into force on November 23, 1994.
The text of the new law was drafted by the State Agency for Intellectual Property (AGEPI), in cooperation with the European experts, as part of the program Assistance in Implementing the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA), World Trade Organization (WTO) and EU-Moldova Action Plan in the Context of the European Neighborhood Policy, with the purpose of harmonizing the national legislation with the European and international provisions.
The text introduces new provisions concerning the videogram producer rights, the collective administration system, remuneration method and rates, the Mediation and Arbitration Commission organization and responsibilities, and the authorization procedure for institutions that will administer the authors’ patrimonial rights. The Mediation and Arbitration Commission is to be appointed by the AGEPI and will be responsible for examining and settling copyright disputes.
The text of the law defines the videogram as the first imprint of certain images, possibly accompanied by sound, irrespective of whether it represents an audiovisual creation. The physical or legal person whose name appears on a videogram is considered the author thereof until proven otherwise.
For more information, please contact Roxana Sarghi at our Romania office.
Source: AGEPI
September 21, 2010
Moldova PTO Announces Public Consultation on EU Geographical Indications
On August 20, 2010, the Moldovan State Agency for Intellectual Property (AGEPI) published a special edition of the Official Gazette with the list of agricultural and food products that have a protected geographical status in the European Union and which Moldova will be expected to respect.
The special edition follows the April 23, 2010 decision of the Government of the Republic of Moldova to conclude the agreement with the EU on the protection of geographical indications for agricultural products and foodstuffs.
Interested parties may object to any of these protected products by filing an opposition with the AGEPI within two months from the date of publication.
The Gazette can be obtained free of charge here.
For more information, please contact Jelena Jankovic at our Balkan regional office.
Source: AGEPI
August 24, 2010
Moldovan IPO Updates IP Services List
The Moldovan Intellectual Property Office (AGEPI) has published an updated list of its intellectual property services on its website, in effect since August 1, 2010.
The list of services, fees and deadlines was established in accordance with the AGEPI statute on fees for legal services for IP rights protection.
For more information, please contact Masa Lopicic at our Balkan Regional Office.
Source: AGEPI
July 21, 2010
Moldova Adopts New Law on Copyright and Neighboring Rights
On July 2, 2010, the Moldovan parliament adopted the new Law on Copyright and Neighboring Rights, which will enter into force three months after its publication in the Official Gazette, which is expected soon.
One of the aims of the new Law is to harmonize the national legislation with the provisions of international conventions and European directives. It was drafted by the State Agency for Intellectual Property (AGEPI) during 2007 and 2008, and it will replace the existing Law on Copyright and Neighboring Rights, which entered into force in November 1994.
More details are to follow in the next issue.
For more information, please contact Masa Lopicic at our Balkan Regional office.
Source: AGEPI
June 23, 2010
Moldovan PTO and State Medicines Agency Sign Agreement to Fight Counterfeit Drugs
On May 25, Moldovan PTO and the State Medicines Agency signed a cooperation agreement to improve the law enforcement and protection of intellectual property rights in terms of the pharmaceutical industry.
The agreement is supposed to help prevent the spread of counterfeit medicines that can endanger human life and health. The two institutions are bound by the agreement to create a working group that will implement the necessary security measures.
For more information, please contact Masa Lopicic at our Balkan Regional Office.
Source: Moldovan PTO
Moldovan IPO, EPO Organize Workshops on Drafting Patent Applications
On June 1 and 2, 2010 the Moldovan State Agency for Intellectual Property (AGEPI) and the European Patent Office (EPO) organized two workshops on drafting patent applications for the local patent experts. The workshops aimed to present the best European practices regarding the patent application process and train the local experts in applying them.
Authorized European patent attorneys Karl Rackette, from the German IP law firm Rackette, and Emmanuel Jelsch, from the Swiss IP law firm Katzarov, presented case studies related to invention protection to about 40 Moldovan patent agents. Attendees were also given tips on writing patent descriptions in accordance with the Patent Cooperation Treaty.
For more information, please contact Masa Lopicic at our Balkan Regional Office.
Source: Moldovan PTO
March 30, 2010
Moldovan PTO and EPO Cooperating to Develop Effective IP System
On February 8, 2010, Moldovan State Agency for Intellectual Property (AGEPI) delegation signed a cooperation program for 2010–2011 with European Patent Office (EPO), inviting the two institutions to further develop the field of industrial property in Moldova.
One of the main goals of the cooperation is to harmonize national legislation with international and European patent regulations and to strengthen institutional capacities of the Moldovan IPO.
The program will also ensure continuity in joint projects that have already begun, specifically regarding the strengthening of the national patent system. Moldova intends to rebuild its system on best practices used by other EPO member states and train its specialists accordingly.
On a different subject, a consortium formed by the Romanian PTO (OSIM) and the Danish Patent and Trademark Office (DKPTO) has recently won the bid for the project organized by the Delegation of the European Commission to Moldova, aiming to support implementation and enforcement of intellectual property rights in the Republic of Moldova.
The beneficiaries are the Moldovan State Agency for Intellectual Property (AGEPI), The Ministry of Justice, The Ministry of Internal Affairs, The Ministry of Economy and Commerce and the Customs Service. The bid was open to all EU member states.
For more information, please contact Masa Lopicic or Marius Ciobanasu in our Balkan Regional and Romanian offices.
Source: Moldovan and Romanian IPOs
June 25, 2009
Moldovan IPO Hosts UPOV Regional Training on Plant Variety Protection
The Moldovan Intellectual Property Office and the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) have recently held a regional training on plant variety protection under the UPOV Convention for Certain Countries in the Eurasian Region.
The training took place in Chisinau, Moldova, from June 9 to 11, 2009. The event was supported by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF).
The purpose of the training was to discuss effective implementation of systems for plant variety protection, the impact of plant variety protection under the UPOV Convention, and on industry’s perspective within the framework of the Convention.
Vice Secretary-General of UPOV, Rolf Jördens, presented a brief guide for drafting relevant laws for countries that intend to join the UPOV.
Katsymi Iamagychi of the MAFF and Kitispi Sukhapinda of the USPTO informed participants about plant variety protection systems in their countries, while representatives of Armenia, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Slovakia Tajikistan and Ukraine presented theirs.
For more information, please contact Jovana Miocinovic in our Balkan Regional Office.