Patents Laws in Montenegro
Here’s a clear summary of patent laws in Montenegro:
🔹 Patent Laws in Montenegro
1. Governing Law
Patents in Montenegro are governed by the Law on Patents (latest version from 2016).
Administered by the Intellectual Property Office of Montenegro (IPO Montenegro).
2. Patentability Criteria
To be patentable, an invention must:
Be new (novel),
Involve an inventive step (non-obvious),
Have industrial applicability.
3. Patent Protection Options
National patent applications filed directly with IPO Montenegro.
Montenegro is a member of the European Patent Convention (EPC), so:
European patents can be validated and enforced in Montenegro.
Montenegro is also a contracting party to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT):
International applications can enter Montenegro’s national phase.
4. Patent Term
Patent protection lasts 20 years from the filing date, subject to renewal fees.
5. Application and Examination
Formal examination is done by IPO Montenegro.
Substantive examination is required to grant a patent.
Applications are published 18 months after filing (or priority date).
6. Language
Applications must be filed in Montenegrin.
For European patents, translation into Montenegrin is required for validation.
7. Enforcement
Patent holders can enforce rights in Montenegrin courts.
Remedies include injunctions, damages, and destruction of infringing products.
8. International Treaties
Montenegro is a member of:
The European Patent Convention (EPC),
The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT),
The Paris Convention,
The TRIPS Agreement through WTO membership.
✅ Summary Table
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Governing Law | Law on Patents (2016) |
| Patent Authority | Intellectual Property Office of Montenegro (IPO Montenegro) |
| Patent Term | 20 years from filing |
| Filing Options | National, European (EPC), PCT national phase |
| Language | Montenegrin |
| Patent Enforcement | Montenegrin courts |
| Treaties | EPC, PCT, Paris Convention, TRIPS |
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