European Patent Office

Article 94

Citation: OJ EPO 2014, A94

Online publication date: 30.9.2014

INFORMATION FROM THE CONTRACTING STATES/ EXTENSION AND VALIDATION STATES

AL Albania

Albania amends Industrial Property Law with effect from 10 July 2014

The Albanian General Directorate of Patents and Trademarks (ALGDPT) has informed the European Patent Office that several amendments to the Industrial Property Law entered into force on 10 July 2014. ALGDPT is currently drafting the implementing regulation for the amended law.

Regarding European patents, the amended law provides that European patent applications filed with ALGDPT have the same effect as if they were filed on the same date with the EPO, provided that ALGDPT has transferred them to the EPO, pursuant to the provisions of the EPC.

Further amendments concern Albania's accession to the London Agreement which occurred on 1 September 2013 (OJ EPO 2013, 404). According to the amended provisions, European patents will be deemed to be void ab initio in Albania if the patent proprietor does not supply to the Albanian General Directorate of Patents and Trademarks

  • an English translation of the patent specification and an Albanian translation of the claims,

or, if the patent was granted in English,

  • an Albanian translation of the claims.

For more details, please consult the website of the Albanian General Directorate of Patents and Trademarks (www.dppm.gov.al/).

As soon as the EPO receives the relevant information from the Albanian General Directorate of Patents and Trademarks, the HTML version of the EPO brochure "National law relating to the EPC" will be amended accordingly.