Official Fees in Trademark Registration Proceedings in Romania
Trademark protection in Romania is administered by the State Office for Inventions and Trademarks (OSIM), the national authority competent to examine, register, and maintain trademark rights.
Filing of the Trademark Application
The registration procedure is initiated by the filing of an application for an individual, collective, or certification mark. Upon submission, a filing fee of EUR 10 is payable. Although limited in amount, this fee is procedurally decisive, as it conditions the formal recording of the application and the examination of compliance with the requirements for the grant of a national filing date. In the absence of payment, the application cannot advance within the administrative process.
Publication of the Trademark Application
Following the constitution of the national filing, the trademark application is published in the Official Bulletin of Industrial Property (BOPI). Publication fulfils a fundamental function in the trademark system, ensuring transparency of the register and enabling third parties to exercise their right to oppose the registration.
The publication fee varies according to the representation of the mark. For black-and-white marks, the fee is EUR 30, while for colour marks it is EUR 100. This differentiation corresponds to the additional technical requirements associated with colour reproduction and may also influence applicants’ strategic decisions regarding the visual scope of protection sought.
Substantive Examination of Individual Trademarks
The substantive examination stage represents the central phase of the registration procedure. For individual trademarks covering one class of goods or services, the examination fee is set at EUR 110 for black-and-white marks and EUR 190 for colour marks. Each additional class attracts a supplementary fee of EUR 50, thereby directly linking the cost of examination to the extent of protection claimed.
Where the mark consists of or includes a figurative element, or where a word mark is presented in a particular graphic form, an additional fee of EUR 30 is payable.
Collective and Certification Marks
Collective marks and certification marks are subject to a distinct and significantly higher fee regime. The examination fee for one class amounts to EUR 390 for black-and-white marks and EUR 490 for colour marks, with an additional EUR 70 for each further class. Where the mark incorporates figurative or specially stylized elements, an extra fee of EUR 60 applies.
The elevated level of fees is justified by the specific legal characteristics of these marks and the broader scope of examination required, including the assessment of regulations governing use and compliance with public interest considerations.
Registration and Certificates
Upon acceptance of the application, the issuance of the trademark registration certificate is subject to a fee of EUR 50, payable within 30 days from the date of receipt of the notification confirming the completion of the registration procedure. Comparable fees apply to the issuance of renewal certificates, certificates of priority, and duplicate certificates, generally ranging between EUR 30 and EUR 50.
Renewal of Trademark Protection
Trademark protection in Romania is granted for an initial period of 10 years and may be renewed indefinitely for successive ten-year terms. The renewal fee structure largely mirrors that applicable at the examination stage. For individual trademarks, renewal for one class costs EUR 120 for black-and-white marks and EUR 200 for colour marks, with a supplementary fee of EUR 50 for each additional class and EUR 30 for special graphic elements.
For collective and certification marks, the renewal fees are EUR 400 for black-and-white marks and EUR 500 for colour marks, supplemented by EUR 60 for each additional class and EUR 60 for graphic particularities. This continuity between registration and renewal fees contributes to the predictability and coherence of the trademark fee system.
Priority, Oppositions, and Procedural Matters
The Romanian trademark framework also provides for a range of ancillary fees associated with procedural incidents. The invocation of priority is subject to a fee of EUR 50 when made at the time of filing, or EUR 200 if submitted within three months thereafter. Specific fees apply to oppositions, appeals against decisions, division of applications, and the recordal of changes affecting the legal status of a trademark, such as assignments or changes of name or address.
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