Albania Approves National IP Strategy 2010-2015

On September 1, 2010, the Albanian government adopted the national intellectual property strategy for the 2010-2015 period, drafted by the Albanian Ministry of Integration in cooperation with the European Patent Office (EPO) and supported by the EU’s Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) funds.

The strategy defines the objectives to be reached during the 2010-2015 period, the most important of which are:

• A new copyright law to be adopted in 2011;
• Amendments to the current Albanian Penal Code recognizing counterfeiting as a criminal offense, to be approved in 2012;
• A law regulating the establishment of the Internal Market Inspectorate related to IP protection, in 2011.

The institutions directly affected by the strategy are the Albanian Patent and Trademark Office, the Albanian Copyright Office and the Albanian Customs.

This strategy will enter into force after its publication in the Albanian Official Gazette, which is expected soon.

For more information, please contact Melina Nika at our Albania office.

Source: PETOSEVIC