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Intellectual property glossary

Concise definitions of the most common terms, with citations.

Reviewed: 2026-05-16
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Martin Boshkoski · legal expert
· Reviewed by: 2026-05-16
Acquired distinctiveness
distinctiveness obtained through long-term use (Art. 177(2), Law on Industrial Property).
Bulletin
the IPPO Official Gazette in which applications and registrations are published.
Copyright
the author's right over an original intellectual work (Art. 1, Law on Copyright and Related Rights). →
Distinctiveness
the sign's capacity to distinguish (Art. 176, Law on Industrial Property). →
Geographical indication
a geographical name designating products whose properties are linked to the area. →
Hague System
WIPO system for international registration of industrial designs. →
Identity
complete match with an earlier filed or registered mark.
Industrial design
the external appearance of a product (Art. 3, Law on Industrial Property). →
Industrial property
patent, industrial design, trademark, geographical indication, designation of origin (Art. 2).
Inventive step
patentability criterion: the invention is not obvious to a person skilled in the art.
Industrial applicability
patentability criterion: the invention can be produced or used.
IPPO (State Office of Industrial Property)
the Macedonian state office that grants and registers industrial property rights.
License
contract by which the rights-holder allows a third party to use the right.
Madrid System
WIPO system for international registration of trademarks. →
Moral rights
the author's personal, inalienable rights (Arts. 17, 18, 19, Copyright Law).
Nice Classification
international classification of goods and services for trademark registration.
Novelty
patentability criterion: the invention is not part of the state of the art.
Opposition
third-party challenge to a published trademark application (3-month deadline). →
Patent
industrial property right protecting an invention (Art. 2(2)). →
Paris Convention
Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property (1883, as amended).
PCT
Patent Cooperation Treaty. →
Priority principle
the first to file is the first to acquire the right (Paris Convention, Art. 4).
Registered representative
a person entered in the IPPO register, authorized to file applications and represent applicants.
Related rights
rights of performers, producers, broadcasters, publishers (Art. 1, Copyright Law). →
Sign
graphical representation eligible for trademark registration (Art. 175).
Software
computer program — protected as a written work under copyright. →
State of the art
all information available before the filing date (Art. 26).
Supplementary Protection Certificate (SPC)
extends a patent for medicinal or plant-protection products. →
Trademark
sign distinguishing goods or services (Art. 175). →
TRIPS
WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of IP Rights.