Slovak Republic News Archives
August 30, 2011
Slovakia Informs WIPO of Fees Under Budapest Treaty
The Slovak Republic has recently informed the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) of its schedule of fees to be charged by the Culture Collection of Yeasts (CCY), an international depositary authority under the Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purposes of Patent Procedure.
CCY will charge EUR 664 (USD 959) for storage of a microorganism, EUR 33 (USD 48) for the issuance of a viability statement and EUR 40 (USD 58) for the furnishing of a sample of a microorganism.
For more information, please contact Jelena Jankovic at our Balkan Regional Office.
Source: WIPO
July 25, 2011
Slovak Customs Seize 4 Million Counterfeit Marlboro Cigarettes
The Slovak customs officials have recently seized more than 4 million cigarettes, packed into Marlboro packets, believed to be counterfeit, in a raid on an illegal tobacco plant in the municipality of Male Blagovo, Slovakia. The officials arrested four Bulgarian and two Slovak citizens, who face up to eight years in prison.
Along with the cigarettes, the officials seized the production equipment and seven tons of raw tobacco. It is estimated that the damage to Slovakia’s budget, had the cigarettes been sold, would have amounted to at least EUR 1 million (USD 1.45 million).
For more information, please contact Jelena Jankovic at our Balkan Regional Office.
Source: Prague Post; Focus Information Agency
February 23, 2010
New Trademark Law Enters into Force in Slovakia
The new trademark law came into force in Slovakia on January 1, 2010, replacing the 1997 Law on Trademarks. All trademark proceedings pending on January 1, 2010 will be continued by applying the new law.
The new law aims to harmonize the Slovak legislation with the relevant EU regulations. Among other things, it includes new terminology. For example, the term ‘similarity’ is now used instead of ‘interchangeability’, both to define a reason for denying registration and as a basis for trademark infringement.
The new law more precisely defines the rights of owners and introduces a right to compensation for the damages suffered in trademark infringement cases.
According to the new legislation, the applicants are formally allowed to divide the main application into one or more sub-applications, in order to extract certain goods or services from the main application.
For more information, please contact Jelena Jankovic in our Balkan Regional Office.
Source: Law-Now
September 25, 2009
Slovak PTO Publishes New Website
The Slovak Intellectual Property Office launched a new website on August 31, 2009. The website was fully redesigned to meet all user accessibility requirements, including the requirements of those with special needs.
Users can send their comments, complaints or suggestions to web2009@indprop.gov.sk.
For more information, please contact Masa Lopicic in our Balkan Regional Office.
June 25, 2009
Estonia, Russia and Slovakia Accede and Ratify International IP Treaties
As reported by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Estonia, Russia and Slovakia have recently ratified various international IP treaties and conventions.
On May 12, 2009, Russia acceded to the Patent Law Treaty, adopted at Geneva on June 1, 2000. The Treaty will enter into force in Russia on August 12, 2009.
On the same day, Slovakia acceded to the International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants as revised on March 19, 1991. The Convention entered into force in Slovakia on June 12, 2009.
On May 14, 2009, Estonia ratified the Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trademarks, adopted at Singapore on March 27, 2006. The Treaty will enter into force in Estonia on August 14, 2009.
For more information, please contact Jovana Miocinovic in our Balkan Regional Office.
October 06, 2004
New translation requirements issued by the Slovak Republic Industrial Property Office
Slovak IPO requires translation of international preliminary patentability reports into English.
The Industrial Property Office of the Slovak Republic notified the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) of its requirement to translate international preliminary patentability reports into English. This requirement (PCT Chapter I or II, PCT Rules 44bis.3(a) and 72.1) applies when the reports are issued in a language that is not one of the Slovak official languages.
Under the relevant PCT Rule, the International Bureau should be responsible for such translations.
For further information about the Slovak IPO translation requirement, contact our Slovak Republic representative.
June 29, 2004
Slovak Republic Trademark Act
To harmonize with EU law and take account of various EU Directives, Slovak Trademark Act was amended on December 3, 2003
The most significant amendments follow:
- The trademark is not recognized if the application was filed in bad faith.
- Grounds of opposition have been extended by adding various sections that conform to EU articles. The sections in question contain terms such as "acquired reputation", "unregistered sign", "distinctive character" and "unfair advantage".
- New provisions relating to the protection of the Community trademark have been introduced. These provisions include, but are not limited to, the possibility of filing CTM applications before the Slovak IP Office, oppositions based on a Community trademark, conversions into national applications, etc.
- Third parties are now entitled to submit observations to the IP Office before the entry of the trademark in the register. Although individuals or entities submitting the observations will not become party to the proceedings, the IP Office shall take them into account and inform them of the outcome of its assessment.
- Partial refusal of a trademark has been introduced. If the reasons for refusal concern some, but not all, goods or services, the application shall be refused only in respect to those goods and services that are being opposed.
- A request for conversion of a Community trademark application or registered Community trademark into national trademarks may be introduced before the IP Office, following the provisions of the Council Regulation No 40/94 of December 20, 1993. The new law contains the necessary provisions governing conversions at the national level.