FAQ

Liechtenstein Peculiarities

Please note that Liechtenstein does not have an own patent law nor a patent office. Instead, the patents of invention are governed by the Swiss patent law and are administered by the Institute of Intellectual Property (IGE) in Berne, Switzerland, due to the bilateral patent protection act of 1978. Liechtenstein and Switzerland are a common territory for national patents of invention as well as for European patents of invention having effect in Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

Liechtenstein does have, however, an own trademark law as well as an own design law. Trademark and design applications may therefore be filed with and registered by the department of intellectual property of the Liechtenstein Office of Trade and Transport.

As a peculiarity, it should be mentioned that unlike the Swiss trademark law the Liechtenstein trademark law does not provide for an opposition procedure. Accordingly, any trademark disputes will have to be settled by bringing action to the competent courts, unless settlement can be reached during the obligatory mediation process preceding any civil law suit in IP matters.

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