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.

In spite of the large number of customs watch applications, the first destruction of counterfeit goods in Albania took place only recently, on August 9-10, 2012, when 1,005 items bearing the mark of the world’s leading supplier of athletic shoes and apparel and a major manufacturer of sports equipment were destroyed in the presence of trademark representatives and Albanian customs officials.

The new regulation also introduced a new application for action form, similar to the EU form used under the EU Regulation.

The Albanian PTO Appeal Board found the marks confusingly similar and decided in favor of the opponent.

To keep you up-to-date with the latest economic and financial developments, this newsletter prepared by our Team provides information that may affect the operation of your business in Albania.

On 16.02.2017, the Albanian parliament approved the law no. 17/2017 ("Amending Law") amending the law no. 9947, dated 07.07.2008 "On industrial property", as amended ("Law 9947/2008").

The relevant trademark authority is the General Directorate of Patents and Trademarks ("GDPT").