Industrial design registration in North Macedonia

Industrial design registration in North Macedonia

Registration of industrial designs in North Macedonia – Every company that owns an industrial design and intends to expand its business in the North Macedonia market should use the North Macedonia intellectual property system. It is paramount for businesses to file an industrial design application in North Macedonia for industrial designs, even if the launch of the respective product on the market in North Macedonia has not yet commenced.  

Requirements for Industrial Design Registration Application in North Macedonia

An industrial design application in North Macedonia requesting the right of priority must be filed within 6 months from the priority date.

The following information and documents need to be provided in the application for registration of an industrial design in North Macedonia: 

  • name, address, and nationality of the applicant, business address; 
  • request for design registration;
  • representation of a design.

An original of a signed Power of Attorney should be provided when filing an application or within 1 month from the filing date. Legalization or notarization is not required.

For industrial design applications where the priority is to be claimed it is necessary to provide the certified copy of the priority document within 3 months from the filing date.

Examination of an Industrial Design Application in North Macedonia 

Industrial design application in North Macedonia is only examined with the formal requirements.

Validity period and renewal of industrial designs in North Macedonia

12 months from disclosure of information about the industrial design before the application filing does not disprove the novelty of the industrial design according to the North Macedonia legislation.

In addition, a novelty grace period of three months is applicable if the design has been displayed at an officially recognized international exhibition or fair in the Republic of Macedonia or in other Paris Union or WTO members.
The grant fee, which includes fees for the issuance of a document, publishing fees, and maintenance fees for the first five years, must be paid within thirty days of receiving notification from the Macedonian IP Office. Design registration is valid for five years after the date of filing, and it may then be extended for further five-year periods up to a maximum of 25 years. Within the final year of protection periods or within a grace period of six months, additional renewal payments must be paid together with a corresponding premium.

Represented by an industrial design registration attorney 

An international applicant for an industrial design registration in North Macedonia should perform an industrial design search in North Macedonia through a law firm, or an industrial design attorney.