Declaration of Kosovo Independence Does Not Affect IP Right Holders
20-Feb-2008
PRISTINA, KOSOVO - Kosovo independence that was declared on February 17, 2008, did not result in any immediate changes for the right holders in this new European jurisdiction. It is expected, however, that the outstanding questions regarding International Registrations and European Patents will be resolved in the near future.
According to SD PETOSEVIC, Kosovo passed its own Intellectual Property (IP) legislation and established its own IP Office while still under the UN protectorate on November 19, 2007.
The new IP law in Kosovo allows 12 months for re-registering Serbian registrations and re-filing pending applications. Right holders have until September 1, 2008 to maintain predecessor country priority for IP rights in Kosovo.