TRADE MARKS IN ANDORRA

1- REGISTRATION OF TRADE MARKS.

Since December 5th, 1996, it is possible to seek protection of Trade Marks in the Principality of Andorra according to its Trade Mark Law which entered into force on May 24th, 1995.

2- PRIORITIES SCHEME.

Andorra's Trade Mark law envisages a transitional regime so as to take advantage of the priority of an application in the following cases:

		Priority based on a previous registration. Owners of registered trade marks in member countries of the Paris Convention that have applied for trade marks in Andorra before December 5th, 1998, may benefit from the priority of May 24, 1995.
		Priority based on use. Users of trade marks in Andorra on the date on which the Trade Mark Law entered into force (May 24, 1995), and who would apply for those trade marks in Andorra before December 5, 1998, may benefit from the corresponding priority of the date of first use of the mark in Andorra.

3- LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS.

Applications and proceedings before Andorra's Trade Mark Office shall be in Catalan, the official language of the Principality of Andorra. Catalan is also one of the official languages of Catalonia. Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia.


4- DESIGNATION OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES.

Andorra's Trade Mark Law requires the designation of products and services according to the Nice International Classification (contained in the Nice Agreement), using the codes established in the Alphabetical Classification foreseen by WIPO, following the mentioned classification. The designation of other products or services with different coding requires the attachment of a Classification Report issued by WIPO with the corresponding translation into Catalan.