Intellectual Property Lawyers in Cyprus

The laws on intellectual property in Cyprus

Intellectual property protection is comprised in the Common Law in Cyprus. The legislation is quite complex and contains the following legal frameworks:

• The Patents Law, 16/98;
• The Trade Marks Law that was amended a few times with the Law 63/62, Law 69/71, Law 206/90;
• The  Partnerships and Trade Names Law;
• The Legal Protection of Industrial Designs and Models Law of 2002 (4(I)/2002);
• The Intellectual Property Law also amended by Laws 63/77 and 18/93.

As the United Kingdom Designs Law proves, the Cypriot intellectual property protection legislation is mainly based on the English laws protecting intellectual property. At international level, as part of the European Union, Cyprus has signed the Paris Convention for Industrial Property, the Berne Convention for the protection of Literary and Artistic Works, the Universal Copyright Law and is also part of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Our intellectual property lawyers in Cyprus can help you.

Copyright protection in Cyprus

Copyrights are protected by the Cypriot Right of Intellectual Property Law 59/76 that was amended during the years by the Laws 63/77 and 18/93. Copyright protection is enabled for residents, legal entities registered in Cyprus, foreigners that reside in the country and for offshore companies registered in the country. According to the international conventions on intellectual property Cyprus has signed, foreign creations are also recognized. Copyrights are protected during the author’s life and 70 years after his or her death also. However, certain intellectual works can be protected for lesser periods of time.

The protection of patents in Cyprus

Patents fall under the regulations of the Cypriot Patents Law that was last amended in April 1998. The Law has established the existence of an independent authority patents can be registered with. Both national and international patents can be registered with the Register of Patents in Cyprus. The Register will publish the patents in the Official Gazette and will keep records of all patents registered with it. The new law also states that Cypriot patents must be renewed yearly. Patents are protected for 20 years in Cyprus but it depends on the payment of the renewal charge. The new law also enabled compulsory licensing for patents in Cyprus.

Trademark registration in Cyprus

Trademarks fall under the regulations of the Trade Marks Law and according to it goods and services are separated into 34, respectively 11 classes (Nice Classification).  Cypriot trademarks can be registered only if they are genuine. Trademarks must be registered with the Trade Marks Registrar and the application can be submitted by a Cypriot intellectual property lawyer only. Trademarks are protected for 10 years and can be renewed for further 10-year periods.

You can rely on us for trademark registration procedures in Cyprus.

Amendments brought to the Cypriot Intellectual Property Law

In 2012 Cyprus has enabled the IP box in order to create a competitive environment for the research and development industry. The new law provisions lower taxes. The 2012 IP box closed in 2016; the current nexus-based IP box (80% deduction, effective rate 3% from 2026) makes Cyprus one of the most attractive jurisdictions for intellectual property revenues. The new law allows for dividends distributed by a Cypriot company to foreign shareholders, dividends that resulted from intellectual property rights to be exempt from taxation.

You can contact our intellectual property lawyers in Cyprus for details about the new amendments to the Intellectual Property Law. Our Cypriot law firm can also help you with the company registration procedure.