Trademarks in Latvia Agency TRIA ROBIT 5 Vilandes Street, Riga LV-1010, Riga, Latvia P. O. Box 22, LV Tel.: Fax: Katerina Imune Trademark Specialist

Agency TRIA ROBIT2 The first Trademark Law was passed in The Law on Trademarks and Indications of Geographical Origin provided a regime for a trademark registration and protection being very close to the European Community Directive 89/104/EEK passed in Major intellectual property protection legislation in Latvia is in effect since Currently, the legal status of trademarks in Latvia is determined by the law On Trademarks and Indications of Geographical Origin of 16 June 1999, entered into force on 15 July 1999, amended in 2002, 2004 and Legislation background

Agency TRIA ROBIT3 Latvia has ratified the following international agreements WIPO (since 21 January 1993); The Paris Convention (since 7 September 1993); The Trademark Law Treaty (signed on 27 October 1994); The Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks (since 1 January 1995) and Madrid Protocol; The Nice Agreement Concerning the International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks (since 1 January 1995); The Agreement for the Protection of Intellectual Property between the Republic of Latvia and the United States of America (effective as from 29 January 1995).

Agency TRIA ROBIT4 Latvian Trademark Applications (National + International) source:

Agency TRIA ROBIT5 source: Latvian Trademark Applications (National + International)

Agency TRIA ROBIT6 Latvian Trademark Applications Filed by Local Companies (16,8%) (16,2%) (20,5%) (15,1%) (15,0%) (14,8%) (18,1%) (15,9%) (19,1%) (23,6%) (25,7%) source:

Agency TRIA ROBIT7 Latvian Trademark Registrations (National + International) source:

Agency TRIA ROBIT8 OHIM Trademark Applications filed by Latvian Applicants source:

Agency TRIA ROBIT9 OHIM Trademark Applications Filed by Applicants from Baltic Countries LithuaniaEstoniaLatvia source:

Agency TRIA ROBIT10 OHIM Trademark Applications (Total) source:

Agency TRIA ROBIT11 Obtaining Registration Similarities between CTM and Latvian national system -easy-to-file application process -relatively quick examination process -no relative grounds examination -3 months opposition period -administrative opposition procedures -validity for 10 years

Agency TRIA ROBIT12 Obtaining Registration Differences between CTM and Latvian national system - CTM: no Power of Attorney is needed for application filing. (Latvia: Power of Attorney is required) - CTM: registration date after publication (Latvia: publication date = registration date)

Agency TRIA ROBIT13 The future of business Based on statistics and trends there is a strong belief that local business will continue to protect their intellectual property rights both domestically and abroad with more focus to CTM mechanisms giving a unique pan-European protection. As a practical advise to foreign companies doing business in Baltic states may be to always protect their interests in Latvia choosing any registration mechanisms (either national or CTM) based on the business needs in the region.

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