In the last years, Romania has pursued a policy of economic reform and of opening up of access to the outside world with the aim of developing a market economy. Establishing a system of intellectual property protection has been prominent on the agenda of the Romanian Parliament.

Thus, a lengthy process of investigation and legislative deliberation has been followed by the successive enactment of a number of laws and agreements relating to intellectual property, among which should be high lighted: the law concerning the adhesion of Romania to the international classifications came into force on January 14, 1998.

This law decrees Romania's adherence to the following agreements:

  • the Nice Agreement concerning the International Classification of Goods and Services for the purpose of the registration of marks of June 15, 1957 as revised at Stockholm on July 14, 1967, at Geneva on May 13, 1977 and as amended at Geneva on October 2, 1979;
  • the Locarno Agreement establishing an International Classification for Industrial Designs of October 8, 1968 as amended on October 2, 1979;
  • the Strasbourg Agreement concerning the International Classification of patents of March 26, 1971 as amended on September 28, 1979;
  • the Vienna Agreement establishing the International Classification of the Figurative Elements of Marks, drawn up at Vienna on June 12, 1973 and amended on October 1, 1985.

It is important to point out that as regards a necessity imposed by international practice and requirements, the Romanian State Office recognized and used these international classifications long before the law concerning Romania's adhesion to the international agreement comes into force on the territory of our country.

The content of this article is intended to provide general information on the subject matter. For specific circumstances, please contact us for full advice.