INFORMATION FROM THE EPO
Extension of European patents to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
On 24 June 1997 in Munich, the President of the European Patent Office and a representative of the Macedonian government concluded a far reaching agreement on patent co-operation.
Of special importance for European industry is the section governing the extension of European applications and patents to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. This latest addition to the series of similar agreements already signed with Slovenia1, Lithuania2, Latvia3, Albania4 and Romania5 will provide in the foreseeable future a simple and cost-effective route to sound patent protection there: "extended" European patents will confer essentially the same protection in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as those currently granted by the EPO for the 18 member states of the European Patent Organisation.
The relevant parts of the agreement will take effect once the necessary Macedonian legislation enters into force. The exact date will be announced in the Official Journal in due course.
The EPO has also agreed on intensive technical co-operation with the Macedonian Patent Office. In particular, it will provide training for its staff and the local patent profession, and help modernise the MKPO and its patent information system.
1 OJ EPO 1994, 75 (see also for more details about the extension system).