Are businesses ready for European brands? - Expert Laknori: Legislation is 100% harmonized with the EU
Albania is in the process of integrating into the EU and businesses will be among the main actors that must adapt to the rules, standards and competition of the European market. But to focus on intellectual property, what stage are enterprises at in terms of registering brands in European standards?
"Albania has harmonized 100% of its legislation, I was lucky enough to be part of the intellectual property strategy group myself, from an expertise point of view. Chapter 7, which deals with intellectual property, is 100% harmonized. Lastly, there are two new draft laws that just entered into force in August, on trademarks and patents for inventions. In every law that is made in the EU, we transfuse it into our laws. The first is to help ourselves, and to make the entry into the EU as convenient as possible, and the third is to prepare business and consumers for what the situation will be like."
But what are the challenges that a business may face during the trademark registration process in EU standards?
"For years, Albania has transposed all agreements as a candidate country, as well as all treaties on intellectual property. Which means that when you make an application to Albania, within 12 months you can make an application to the International Intellectual Property Organization in Geneva. In which you receive protection in 28 countries. This is good, because if you have violated the rights of another brand, it will not be approved. Within these 12 months, all 28 EU countries give you an answer whether it is accepted or not. There are times when it is not accepted. You have to do research before making the brand."
The criteria you need to register a trademark in European standards range from the most unique trademark to compliance with legislation.
"The legislation, the brand must be unique, it must be different from others, and it must not copy a previous brand. This is the criterion, if you open a new business, you have to think carefully. You have to see if it infringes the rights of another brand or not."
Expert Laknori advises that before creating a brand, you should do research to avoid copying an existing brand and then protect it.
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