Updated: November 19, 2024
The Intellectual Property Law of Cyprus covers many processes, ideas, and inventions. It protects creators, owners, and authors from transgression and consumers who rely on product safety, reliability, and authenticity. This article will tell you what intellectual property is, how it is defined in terms of Cyprus law, what laws govern intellectual property rights, and what types of intellectual property exist.
In Cyprus, Intellectual property protection is provided by common law. The legislation is quite complex and contains the following legal framework:
Since Cyprus is a part of the European Union and is a member of the World Intellectual Property Organization, the country is also subject to international regulations:
Copyright is protected by the Intellectual Property Law 59/76 of Cyprus, which has been amended by Laws Number 63/77 and Number 18/93 over the years. Copyright protection extends to residents, legal entities, offshore companies registered in Cyprus, and foreigners residing there.
According to the international conventions on intellectual property signed by Cyprus, foreign innovations are also recognized on the island. Copyright is protected throughout the author’s life and 50 years after his or her death. However, specific intellectual works may be protected for a shorter period.
Patents are subject to the Patent Law of Cyprus, which was last amended in April 1998. The law established an independent body where patents could be registered - the Patents Register of Cyprus. Its responsibilities include recording and publishing all patents in the Official Gazette of the Cyprus Republic.
Cypriot patents are renewed annually and protected for 20 years as long as renewal fees are paid. According to the latest amendments, patents in Cyprus can be compulsorily licensed.
Trademarks are subject to the Trademark Law. Cypriot trademarks can only be registered if they are authentic. Trademarks must be registered in the Trademark Registry. However, only a Cypriot lawyer can apply for registration. Trademarks are protected for 10 years after registration and every 14 years after that.
In 2012, Cyprus introduced an intellectual property system to create a competitive environment in the research and development industry. Lower taxes are a key element of the amendments. According to the Income Tax Law, the new 2% tax rate makes Cyprus one of the most attractive jurisdictions for intellectual property income. The new law exempts dividends a Cypriot company distributes to foreign shareholders from taxation and dividends from intellectual property rights.
Unlike the ownership of cars, houses, and other objects, an individual or legal entity’s intellectual property extends to the creations of the human mind: invention, design, mark, work of art, etc.
Intellectual property protection gives owners the exclusive or unique right to use their creations. In addition, owners can take steps to protect their intellectual property in cases of illegal or unauthorized copying and use by third parties.
Intellectual property is a valuable asset that contributes to generating profit from the business and further development through commercial exploitation and selling rights-of-use to third parties.
According to the laws of Cyprus, there are 4 types of intellectual property:
Patent. A patent protects new inventions, such as innovative products, processes, and product performance enhancement or production methods. Before a patent is granted, the respective invention has to be brand-new, involve an innovative process, and allow industrial application.
A trademark is intended to distinguish one company’s products and services from others’ products and services. A trademark can be a word, shape, image, sound, colour, or any combination of the above. You can read more about trademarks in this article.
An industrial design protects the appearance of a product or a part of it.
Copyright is an automatic right that protects, among other things, literary, audiovisual, musical, theatrical, architectural, and other works of art, films, databases, recordings, programs, publications of previously unpublished works, and computer programs.
The differences between the types of intellectual property are clearly shown in the table:
| Attributes | Patent | Trademark | Industrial design | Copyright |
| Maximum protection period | 20 years Medicines or plant protection products: the period can be extended up to 25 years. Medicines for children: the period can be extended up to 25 years and 6 months | Unlimited | 25 years | Varies depending on the nature of the work up to 70 years from the death of the author |
| Registration fee | EUR 230 for a national patent. EUR 100 is needed to confirm the European patent in the Republic of Cyprus. The cost of international patent registration changes from year to year | EUR 150 per class (including the cost of issuing a certificate) | EUR 85,43 | Automatic protection, no registration fee |
| Renewal period | Annually, starting from the 3rd year | Every 10 years | Every 5 years | Automatic protection without renewal |
| What can be protected | Innovative inventions, new processes, a new way of working with a product | A logo or a name that distinguishes a product, service, business, or trademark | The appearance of a product or a part of it | A book, article, script, song, choreography, architecture, software, database, painting, photograph, or other work of art |
| Who is asking for protection | Inventors | Entrepreneurs, service providers, product owners | Designers, product owners | Writers, artists, architects, and other performing artists |
| Benefits of Protection | Patenting provides exclusive rights to use the invention for the entire duration of the certificate. | Obtaining a trademark registration certificate enhances the ability to protect against transgression and commercial and economic use of the trademark. | Registration of an industrial design provides exclusive rights to use it during the entire registration period. | Automatic protection against violations when using the copyright |
What are the four main types of intellectual property?
The four basic types of intellectual property are copyrights, patents, trademarks, and trade secrets. Industrial designs are also a type of intellectual property. Copyrights are the protection and rights granted to original works of authorship, such as novels, poems, music, sculptures, engravings, and other forms of intellectual work. Patents are property rights granted to original inventions, covering physical inventions, software, and pharmaceuticals.
A trademark is a recognizable and distinct symbol, phrase, or other representation, like the Coca-Cola logo or the Nike swoosh. Trade secrets are a company’s practices or processes that are not public information, like the Coca-Cola recipe. Industrial designs or models refer to new and unique features of a product, such as materials, textures, and shapes, protecting the appearance of a product or part of it.
What is intellectual property?
Intellectual property (IP) encompasses the rights given to creations of the mind, from literary works and art to logos, software, and pharmaceuticals. It is protected by law and enables people to earn recognition or financial benefit from what they invent or create, as noted by WIPO (the World Intellectual Property Office).
How do you protect your intellectual property in Cyprus?
Protecting your intellectual property in Cyprus depends on the type of property. Copyrights exist automatically and do not need to be registered. Patents, trademarks, and industrial designs need to be registered and renewed at the Registrar of Companies and Intellectual Property.
Trade secrets are protected by legislation, specifically the Law on the protection of undisclosed “know-how” and business information (trade secrets) against their unlawful acquisition, use, and disclosure of 2020 (164(I)/ 2020). Protection measures include NDAs and internal policies.
What are intellectual property rights?
Intellectual property rights are the rights attached to original works and creations of the mind. They protect and distinguish such creations. They are commonly grouped as copyrights, patents, trademarks, trade secrets, and industrial designs.
What are the intellectual property laws in Cyprus?
Cyprus has harmonised legislation with the EU acquis and is also a signatory to international intellectual property conventions like the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property and the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works.
The IP regime in Cyprus is fully compliant with EU standards. The legislative IP framework in Cyprus includes the Patent Law 16/98, the Trademarks Law cap. 268 as amended, and the General and Limited Partnership and Business Names Law cap. 116.
What are Cyprus' intellectual property tax regulations?
The Cyprus IP Box Regime provides a maximum tax rate of 2.5% on income earned from IP assets. For details and a comparison with other jurisdictions and ineligible assets, see https://ipbox.cy/.
George K. Konstantinou
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