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Frequently Asked Questions

In this section you will find answers to the questions most frequently asked by our clients regarding Trademarks, Patents and Designs in Greece.

TRADEMARKS (TMs)

1. What elements can a TM consist of?

Any sign that can be presented on a paper can be filed as a TM. Namely, TMs may be one or a combination of words (even the name of a person or a company or the title of a newspaper or a magazine), letters and numerals as well as designs in black and white or in colour and symbols.

Moreover, audible signs such as music or vocal sounds can also be considered as TMs, although such TM applications can not yet be filed in Greece.

2. What reasons can prevent a proposed TM from being accepted?

A proposed TM must fulfil certain conditions in order to be accepted by the Administrative Trademark Committee. We mention below the most important reasons that can prevent the final registration of a TM application:

  1. The proposed TM is identical or similar to a pre-filed TM that covers identical or similar goods or services or even different ones, provided however, that the pre-filed TM is a mark of fame.

    A search in the TMs that already exist is suggested before the filing of a new TM application in order to avoid unnecessary expenses.

  2. It is not sufficiently distinctive, so that consumers can not identify it with the products that come from a particular company, or distinguish it from other TMs identified with similar products of a different company.

  3. It consists exclusively of signs or elements that declare the kind, the quality, the characteristics, the quantity, the value, the place of origin or other features of the product or service.

  4. It violates public order or morality.

  5. It is misleading or deceiving for customers especially regarding the nature, the quality or the place of origin of the product or service.


3. What is required for filing a TM application?

In order to file a TM application in Greece the following documents are required:

  1. A Power of Attorney simply signed by the owner. If the applicant is a company, the Power of Attorney must be signed by its legal representative. The rubber seal of the company is also required. This document does not require any notarization or legalization.

    One Power of Attorney is sufficient for one or more applications of the same applicant. The same Power of Attorney can also be used on further applications up to 5 years from the date of execution.

    Note: The above document must be filed at the time of filing the TM application.

  2. The list of goods/services that the TM will cover.

  3. 10 specimens of the proposed TM. If it is in colour combination, 15 coloured specimens of the proposed TM are required.

4. When is priority claimed?

In the event that a TM has been pre-filed in a country (country of origin), priority can be claimed upon filing of the TM application in a new country. In this case the TM protection begins in the new country from the date of the TM application in the country of origin.

A priority right is acquired in Greece under the following conditions:

  1. It is claimed within 6 months as from the date of the TM application in the country of origin.

  2. The Priority Document with its translation in Greek is submitted within 3 months as from the date of the filing of the application in the new country or, at the latest, within 9 months as from the date of the TM application in the country of origin.

  3. In the event that the applicant for the TM is not the same as the applicant mentioned on the Priority Document, a TM Assignment Deed with its translation in Greek must  also be submitted. If this Assignment Deed is not certified by the Trademark Office of the country of origin, then it must be notarized and further legalized with Apostille.

5. What is the procedure from the filing of a TM application to its final registration?

  1. A TM application is filed with the Trademark Department of the Ministry of Economy, Competitiveness and Shipping. The date of the TM novelty examination is announced at the time of the filing of its application and it is usually set in 3 months after filing.

  2. The Administrative Trademark Committee examines if the TM application fulfils certain conditions. The decision of the Committee is rendered within 8 months.

  3. If the TM application is approved, then, within a year after the approval, the TM is published in the Bulletin of Commercial and Industrial Property. A period of 4 months after the publication is provided for any opposition to be filed by any third party concerned. If no opposition is filed, the TM application is registered.

  4. If the TM application is rejected, the owner can appeal before the Ordinary Tribunal of First Instance, then before the Court of Appeal and finally before the Cassassion Court.

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PATENTS

1. What is required for filing an application for the translation of a European Patent (National Phase)?

For filing an application for the translation of a European Patent the following documents are required:

  1. The description, abstract and claims of the European Patent. These documents have to be translated into Greek.

  2. The drawings, if any.

  3. The first page of the published application (EPO Form A1) with all the necessary information (title, abstract, name of the inventor(s), name of the applicant(s), priority date etc.).

  4. A copy of the Decision to Grant (EPO Form 2006) or document B1.

  5. A Power of Attorney simply signed by the owner. If the applicant is a company, the Power of Attorney must be signed by its legal representative. The rubber seal of the company is also required. This document does not require any notarization or legalization.

One Power of Attorney is sufficient for one or more applications of the same applicant. The same Power of Attorney can also be used on further occasions up to 5 years from the date of execution.

Note: All of the above documents must be filed with the Organization of Industrial Property within three months as from the date of publication, which is mentioned in the Decision to Grant (EPO Form 2006).

2. What is required for filing a Greek Patent application?

For filing a Greek Patent application the following documents are required:

  1. The title, description, abstract and claims of the invention in English, French or German. These documents have to be translated into Greek.

  2. The name, address and citizenship of the applicant(s).

  3. The name, address and citizenship of the inventor(s).

  4. A Power of Attorney simply signed by the owner. If the applicant is a company, the Power of Attorney must be signed by its legal representative. The rubber seal of the company is also required. This document does not require any notarization or legalization.

  5. The drawings, if any.

  6. In the event that the author has assigned his rights over the invention to the applicant it is also required:

    A) A Declaration, signed by the inventor, setting out the nature of the relationship between him and the applicant. This document must be notarized and further legalized with Apostille,

    or

    B) A Declaration, signed by the legal representative of the company which files the application, setting out the nature of the relationship between the inventor and the company. This document must be notarized and further legalized with Apostille,

    or

    C) A Greek Patent Assignment Deed signed by both parties and duly notarised and legalized with Apostille.

    Note: 1 and 2 are required at the time of filing of the patent application, while the rest of them can be submitted within 4 months after the filing of the application.

3. When is priority claimed in the case of filing of a Greek Patent application?

In the event that a patent application has been pre-filed in a country (country of origin), priority can be claimed upon filing of the patent application for the same invention in a new country. In this case the invention protection begins in the new country on the same date as the date of the patent application in the country of origin.

In Greece priority right is acquired under the following conditions:

  1. The priority is claimed within 12 months as from the date of the patent application in the country of origin.

  2. The Priority Document with its translation in Greek is filed within 16 months as from the date of the patent application in the country of origin.

  3. In the case where the applicant for the patent is not the same as the applicant mentioned on the Priority Document, a Greek Patent Assignment Deed with its translation in Greek must  also be submitted. If this Assignment Deed is not certified by the Patent Office of the country of origin, then it must be notarized and further legalized with Apostille.

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DESIGNS

1. What is required for filing a Design application?

For filing a Design application the following documents are required:

  1. Drawing(s) or photos of the Design.

  2. A short description of the Design (optional) consisting of 100 words maximum.

  3. A Power of Attorney simply signed by the owner. If the applicant is a company, the Power of Attorney must be signed by its legal representative. The rubber seal of the company is also required. This document does not require any notarization or legalization.

  4. A Priority Document, in the event that priority is being claimed.

  5. If the author has assigned his rights over the Design to the applicant it is also required:

A) A Declaration, signed by the author of the Design, setting out the nature of the relationship between the author and the applicant. This document must be notarized and further legalized with Apostille,

or

B) A Declaration, signed by the legal representative of the company which files the application, setting out the nature of the relationship between the author and the applicant. This document must be notarized and further legalized with Apostille,

or

C) A Design Assignment Deed, signed by both parties and duly notarized and legalized with Apostille.

Note: The Power of Attorney and the Declaration or Assignment Deed can be submitted within four months after the filing of the Design application.

2. When is priority claimed in the case of filing of a Design application?

In the event that a Design application has been pre-filed in a country (country of origin), then priority can be claimed upon filing of the application for the same Design  in a new country. In this case the protection begins in the new country on the same date that the Design application was filed in the country of origin.

In Greece a priority right is acquired under the following conditions:

  1. The priority is claimed within 6 months as from the date of the Design application in the country of origin.

  2. The Priority Document with its translation in Greek is filed within 10 months as from the date of the Design application in the country of origin.

  3. In the case where the applicant for the Design is not the same as the applicant mentioned on the Priority Document, a Design Assignment Deed with its translation in Greek must also be submitted. If this Assignment Deed is not certified by the Patent Office of the country of origin, then it must be notarized and further legalized with Apostille.

If your questions have not been answered, please do not hesitate to contact us.

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