Memorandum of understanding between EUIPO and the Institute signed
Memorandum of understanding on bilateral cooperation between the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the Institute for Intellectual Property of Bosnia and Herzegovina was signed in Geneva on the 11th of July 2024 by João Negrão, executive director of the EUIPO and Josip Merdžo, director of the Institute for Intellectual Property of BiH.
EUIPO and the Institute will undertake bilateral cooperation activities related to trademarks and designs as well as activities related to IP enforcement, IP education and IP awareness. These activities will target the Institute, its staff, IP users and rights holders (with particular focus on small and medium-sized enterprises).
Bilateral cooperation involves information tools, information technology (IT) systems for IP management, classification and other IP-related databases, alignment of trademark and design best practices, networking and awareness-raising activities, training programmes, trademark and design experts’ meetings, trademark and design statistics, secondment programme for examiners and other staff, quality management systems, IP economics and studies and the enforcement related matters.
The EUIPO is responsible for managing the EU trade mark and the registered Community design. It also works with the intellectual property (IP) offices of the EU Member States and international partners to offer a similar registration experience for trade marks and designs across Europe and the world.
The Institute for Intellectual Property of Bosnia and Herzegovina is responsible for conducting the proceedings for the acquisition, maintenance, transfer, and lapse of industrial property rights (patent, trademark/service mark, industrial design, and geographical indication) in compliance with the international conventions, treaties, and agreements acceded to and ratified by Bosnia and Herzegovina and with the laws and implementing regulations governing this matter. The Institute is also responsible for the administrative tasks related to the protection of a topography of integrated circuits (Layout Designs).
MoU is signed on the period of four years and it may be extended by the Offices’ mutual written consent.
