Trademarks in Latvia

Agency TRIA ROBIT5 Vilandes Street, RigaLV-1010, Riga, LatviaP. O. Box 22, LV-1010E-mail: info@triarobit.comTel.: 00371 7320300Fax: 00371 7325600

Katerina ImuneTrademark Specialist

Agency TRIA ROBIT 2

The first Trademark Law was passed in 1993. The Law

on Trademarks and Indications of Geographical Origin provided

a regime for a trademark registration and protection being very

close to the European Community Directive 89/104/EEK passed

in 1988.

Major intellectual property protection legislation in

Latvia is in effect since 1993. Currently, the legal status of

trademarks in Latvia is determined by the law On Trademarks

and Indications of Geographical Origin of 16 June 1999, entered

into force on 15 July 1999, amended in 2002, 2004 and 2007.

Legislation background

Agency TRIA ROBIT 3

Latvia has ratified the following

international agreements WIPO (since 21 January 1993); The Paris Convention (since 7 September 1993); The Trademark Law Treaty (signed on 27 October 1994); The Madrid Agreement Concerning the International

Registration of Marks (since 1 January 1995) and Madrid Protocol;

The Nice Agreement Concerning the International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks (since 1 January 1995);

The Agreement for the Protection of Intellectual Property between the Republic of Latvia and the United States of America (effective as from 29 January 1995).

Agency TRIA ROBIT 4

Latvian Trademark Applications

(National + International)

1996 5616

1997 6353

1998 7325

1999 5959

2000 6733

2001 7184

2002 6955

2003 8014

2004 6751

2005 5790

2006 5663source: www.lrpv.lv

Agency TRIA ROBIT 5

source: www.lrpv.lv

Latvian Trademark Applications (National + International)

Agency TRIA ROBIT 6

Latvian Trademark Applications Filed by Local Companies1996 724 (16,8%)

1997 1031 (16,2%)

1998 1508 (20,5%)

1999 842 (15,1%)

2000 998 (15,0%)

2001 262 (14,8%)

2002 1262 (18,1%)

2003 1278 (15,9%)

2004 1290 (19,1%)

2005 1367 (23,6%)

2006 1455 (25,7%)

source: www.lrpv.lv

Agency TRIA ROBIT 7

Latvian Trademark Registrations (National + International)

source: www.lrpv.lv

Agency TRIA ROBIT 8

OHIM Trademark Applications filed by Latvian Applicants1996 0

1997 0

1998 0

1999 2

2000 0

2001 0

2002 0

2003 2

2004 7

2005 25

2006 31source: www.oami.europa.eu

Agency TRIA ROBIT 9

OHIM Trademark Applications Filed by Applicants from Baltic Countries

1996 - 2003

11

2004 17

2005 29

2006 71

2007 24

Lithuania

Estonia Latvia26

30

31

57

70

4

7

25

31

25

source: www.oami.europa.eu

Agency TRIA ROBIT 10

OHIM Trademark Applications (Total)

1996 43010

1997 27238

1998 31572

1999 41242

2000 57324

2001 48856

2002 45214

2003 57659

2004 58855

2005 64809

2006 77479source: www.oami.europa.eu

Agency TRIA ROBIT 11

Obtaining Registration

Similarities between CTM and Latvian national system

- easy-to-file application process- relatively quick examination process- no relative grounds examination- 3 months opposition period- administrative opposition procedures - validity for 10 years

Agency TRIA ROBIT 12

Obtaining Registration

Differences between CTM and Latvian national system

- CTM: no Power of Attorney is needed for application filing. (Latvia: Power of Attorney is required) - CTM: registration date after publication (Latvia: publication date = registration date)

Agency TRIA ROBIT 13

The future of businessBased on statistics and trends there is a strong

belief that local business will continue to protect their

intellectual property rights both domestically and abroad

with more focus to CTM mechanisms giving a unique pan-

European protection.

As a practical advise to foreign companies doing

business in Baltic states may be to always protect their

interests in Latvia choosing any registration mechanisms

(either national or CTM) based on the business needs in

the region.

Thank You for Your Attention