Slovakia

On 1 January 2010, new trademark legislation came into force (Act No. 506/2009 )on trademarks, replacing old Act on the Trademarks (No. 55/1997 ).The Slovak Republic is a member of the Madrid Agreement and the Madrid Protocol. Since May 1st, 2004, the Slovak Republic has been a member of the European Union. Trademark protection is obtained by registration.

Trademark registration classification:

Nice Classification

Requirements:

  • The applicant’s name, address, nationality (if applicable)
  • Name of the trade mark and one copy of the mark (unless mark is word only).
  • class(es) and specification of goods and/or services .
  • A non-legalized power of attorney is sufficient.The legalization or notarization of a Power of Attorney is not required. After filing the application, the Office sets the term for filing the POA; usually, it is two months from filing the trademark application.

Procedure:

  • The application is filed at the Industrial Property Office of the Slovak Republic.
  • The application process includes a formal examination, an examination of distinctiveness and a search for prior trademarks. Signs not deemed distinctive in the examination can be registered if distinctiveness is proven through use before filing the application of trademark.
  • After the examination, the trademark application is published for 3 months in the monthly “Bulletin of Industrial Property Office of the Slovak Republic". 
  • The opposition period is 3 months. At the end of the opposition period, the trademark is registered and published if no opposition has been filed or opposition has been rejected.
  • The duration from first filing to publication or first office action is approx. 4-6 months. 

Duration and Renewal: Protection begins with the date of registration. A trademark registration is valid for 10 years from date of application. The registration is renewable for periods of 10 years.

 

 Fee Structure
          
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