PODGORICA - The Montenegrin Intellectual Property Office (IPO) announced on June 17, 2008, that it will no longer accept copies of Serbian filing/validity certificates for obtaining a certificate of registration in Montenegro.

According to SD PETOSEVIC, in order to obtain a certificate of registration in Montenegro, an original or a certified copy of a Serbian filing/validity certificate is now required.

Until June 17, 2008, a copy was sufficient.

The deadline for filing the original or the certified copy of a Serbian filing/validity certificate is 30 days from filing the request for a certificate of registration.

Most importantly, the IP right holders who already submitted copies of the Serbian filing/validity certificate will have to re-submit the original or a certified copy of the filing/validity certificate within one month from the notification of this change of rule.