Register a Trademark in Lithuania

Trademark registration in Lithuania falls under the Law on Trade Marks which was enabled in 2000 and enacted in 2001. Our Lithuanian company formation consultants can offer information on the legislation related to intellectual property, including trademark registration.

In Lithuania, local and foreign entrepreneurs who open companies here will usually have a representation of their brands which will help their clients to distinguish their favorite products and services from others. This is done through trademark registration, a procedure which accounts for around 2,000 successful yearly registrations completed with the National Patent Bureau.

Types of trademarks in Lithuania

Apart from the local laws which allow both natural persons and companies in Lithuania to register their trademarks with the State Patent Bureau, the country is also a signatory member of several international agreements, among which the Nice Convention and the Vienna Agreement. Under the local and international laws, the following types of trademarks can be registered in Lithuania:

1. single-class trademarks;
2. multiple-class trademarks;
3. international trademarks;
4. community trademarks.

All trademark applications will be filed with the State Patent Bureau in Lithuania.

Quick Facts
Who can file for trademark registration in Lithuania	Foreigners and Lithuanian residents
Trademark law in Lithuania	Republic of Lithuania Law on Trade Marks
Institution regulating intellectual property matters	One can register a trademark in Lithuania with the State Patent Bureau.
International intellectual property laws recognized in Lithuania	Nice Convention, Vienna Agreement, signatory state of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) treaties.
What constitutes a trademark in Lithuania	A tradermark is defined according to the Article 2 of the Republic of Lithuania Law on Trade Marks (which states that a trademark refers to a distinctive sign of an individual/business, created with the purpose of distinguishing specific services or products from those of other entities).
Types of trademarks that can be registered in Lithuania	Individuals can register a trademark in Lithuania as a single-class or multi-class mark, or as community/international mark.
Documents required for trademark registration	Details of the trademark, the class of goods/services it covers, a filled application form, the fee receipt and a power of attorney (the latter is required if the application is submitted by a legal representative).
Steps to be followed after the trademark application is submitted	Formal examination, publication of the trademark, the opposition period, the registration of the trademark.
The validity of the trademark registration in Lithuania	10 years
The duration of the registration procedure	One can register a trademark in Lithuania in minimum 6 months.
Renewal of trademark available (yes/no)	Yes
Procedure to acquire international protection of trademark	In order to acquire international protection, one must address WIPO.
Opposition period	3 months.
Registration fee applicable (yes/no)	Yes
Legal services offered for trademark registration in Lithuania	Our team can prepare the documentation to be submitted with the State Patent Bureau, represent clients in opposition cases, register the trademark at an international level, renew the tradermark protection, etc.

Filing a trademark registration application in Lithuania

Individuals or companies seeking to register trademarks in Lithuania must file the following documents with the State Patent Bureau:

1. an application form which must be signed by the applicant;
2. the receipt indicating the payment of the registration fee;
3. a power of attorney, if the application is submitted by proxy.

The power of attorney is usually used by Lithuanian companies which must appoint a representative to complete the process. Our company registration agents in Lithuania can help companies with the registration of trademarks. We also invite you to watch a short video presenting how to register a Lithuanian trademark:

What does the trademark registration process entail after the filing of documents?

Once the applicant prepared the documentation file, paid the fee required to register a trademark in Lithuania and submitted the file, the documents will enter a formal examination, at the end of which the file is published for the opposition period.

The opposition refers to the period of time in which any other third party can oppose the registration of the said trademark based on one of the legal grounds accepted in this country. The opposition period is 3 months since the publication of the file.

Provided that there isn’t any party that opposes the registration, then the State Patent Bureau will issue the trademark registration certificate. In general, one can register a trademark in Lithuania in a period of maximum 8 months.

Please know that if you represent a foreign third party, such as an individual or company, it is necessary to be represented by a specialist in trademark law, who is registered in Lithuania. In this case, our specialists in company registration in Lithuania can be of help, by addressing our consultants who are specialized in intellectual property law.

Addressing company formation specialists can be the most advantageous option if you want to open a company in Lithuania and register a corporate trademark at the same time. Our team has the necessary expertise in addressing the institutions involved in the two procedures, and can prepare the paperwork required in each case.

National to international trademark registration

Many individuals who initially opt to register a trademark in Lithuania only at a national level (which means that the sign is protected only within the Lithuanian borders and under the Lithuanian intellectual property laws) may want to expand their protection rights.

Thus, some of the holders of trademarks in Lithuania will opt for international registration, which can be completed through the State Patent Bureau, which can convert a national registration to an international one. For this, interested parties are required to complete an application file and pay a processing fee of EUR 80.

What are the fees charged for trademark registration in Lithuania?

Whether you represent an individual registering his or her own trademark or you are a businessman who plans to open a Lithuanian company, during the trademark registration process, you will be asked to pay registration fees. These fees vary in accordance with the type of trademark to be registered and for any subsequent class of goods and services selected for the trademark.

Below, you can read our infographic presenting how to register a Lithuanian trademark:

In the list below, our specialists in company formation in Lithuania have prepared a short presentation on some of the fees imposed by the State Patent Bureau. For extensive information concerning the current fees, our team remains at your service:

• EUR 180 (charged for the individual trademark);
• EUR 40 (charged for the 2nd class of goods and services selected for an individual trademark – the fee is imposed for any other subsequent class);
• EUR 240 (charged for a collective trademark);
• EUR 60 (appeal fee);
• EUR 160 (opposition fee).

Please mind that those who register a trademark in Lithuania have the right to make specific changes to their initial application (our consultants in Lithuania company formation can advise on what changes are acceptable under the local law). The registration of such changes is charged with a fee, which is currently EUR 60.

Is it possible to observe the current trademarks registered in Lithuania?

Yes, those who want to register a trademark in Lithuania have the possibility of studying the current trademarks registered in this country. The State Patent Bureau of the Republic of Lithuania stores several databases on all the trademarks registered here. In this sense, interested parties can verify the protected marks by accessing one of the following databases:

1. the database on the trademarks registered at a national level;
2. the database on marks registered at an EU level;
3. the database on trademarks protected at an international level.

Renewal of trademarks in Lithuania

A Lithuanian trademark has a 10-year validity period and can be renewed upon expiry by filing a renewal application with the Lithuanian State Patent Bureau. An important aspect to be considered is that the trademark can be revoked if it has not been used for 5 consecutive years.

The renewal procedure should be started within the last 6 months of validity (this also includes the payment of the renewal fee). However, it is also possible to initiate the procedure after the date when the trademark validity has expired – in this case, the owners of a trademark should complete the application in maximum 6 months since the expiration date.

Those who fall in the 2nd category (late registration/payment) have to pay 50% surcharge on the standard fee requested for the renewal (standard fee is EUR 180). Please mind that if the holder of the trademark does not pay within the 6 months grace period (after the trademark expiration date) will not be able to pay or re-register the trademark.

Our consultants in company registration in Lithuania can provide further information on the procedures you must initiate in order to maintain a valid registration, regardless if is made at a national or international levels.

For full information or assistance in registering a trademark, please contact our company formation advisors in Lithuania.