Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Southern Caucasus region, enjoying a central position between Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It is a multinational country with a developed economy and constantly growing market. Official implementation of electronic transactions facilitates obtaining protection and defending intellectual property rights. The national currency of Azerbaijan is manat.
The Azerbaijan Patent and Trademark Office conducts correspondence in Azerbaijani language, however, Russian language may be used in certain cases. Any foreign applicant needs to appoint a local Patent Attorney for handling its IP matters before the Office. The appointment can be confirmed with an original signed Power of Attorney, although a copy of the document may suffice in some cases.
Average examination timeframe by the Azerbaijan Patent and Trademark Office is about 12-18 months for inventions, utility models and industrial designs, and about 8-12 months for trademarks. Trademark prosecution involves publishing the trademark for oppositions by third parties.
When an IP-related matter proceeds to court, they are considered by an administrative economic court. An attorney well-versed in the local court practice will ensure protection of the client’s best interest in any matter.
Services
- Inventions or utility models, through national patent applications or PCT entry
- Trademarks, through national trademark applications or Madrid registrations
- Industrial designs, through national applications or the Hague System
- Appellations of origin and geographical indications
- Copyright
- Plant varieties and animal breeds