Deadline for Re-filing Serbian Trademark Applications November 28, 2008 - SD PETOSEVIC
10-Sep-2008
PRISTINA - Serbian trademark applications which were pending on the date the Montenegro Intellectual Property Office (IPO) began its operations, May 28, 2008, must be re-filed in Montenegro by November 28, 2008, to maintain the original filing date.
According to SD PETOSEVIC, Serbian registrations continue to be valid in Montenegro until their expiration date, without the need for re-registration. IP rights holders are advised to apply for a certificate of registration to document their rights in this new jurisdiction.
Meanwhile, the deadline for revalidating Serbian IP rights in Kosovo is October 1, 2008.
IP rights that were registered or filed in Serbia prior to October 1, 2007 must be re-registered or re-filed in Kosovo by October 1, 2008.
Due to the high volume of requests for Validity/Filing certificates from the Serbian IPO, it is likely that many Validity/Filing certificates will not be issued timely - before the October 1, 2008 deadline.
However, Kosovo IPO accepts requests for revalidation without the Validity/Filing certificates, provided they are submitted no later than two months after the request for revalidation is filed.
SD PETOSEVIC provides a full range of IP services in Eastern Europe, including the Balkans and the Commonwealth of Independent States (former USSR).