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The Industrial Property Registrations Directorate (IPRD) is the department responsible for the registrations of Industrial Property, namely Trademarks, Patents and Designs, as well as the broader Copyright Policy forming the Intellectual Property Affairs that it oversees, under the direct authority of the Comptroller of Industrial Property, who is also the Director General (Commerce).
The Industrial Property Registrations Directorate is responsible for the registration of trademarks in accordance with the Trademarks Act of 2000 and the registration of Designs and Patents in conformity with the Patents and Designs Act also of 2000. The Directorate is also involved in the updating and upgrading of the legislation on Copyright.
The Office receives, analyses and processes applications for the registration of Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Patents and also performs other tasks in connection with these applications and registrations, such as the recording of assignments, renewals, and other changes which may occur. In this way, the registers, which are also available for public inspection, show the current status of the Trademarks, Designs or Patents concerned.
International IP Treaties and Agreements
- Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works (1964)
- Paris Convention for the Protection of IP (1967)
- Universal Copyright Convention (1968)
- WIPO Agreement (1977)
- WTO TRIPS Agreement (1995)
- Patent Cooperation Treaty (2007)
- European Patent Convention (2007)
- Accession to the WCT & WPPT (expected 2008)
- Accession to the Madrid Protocol (expected 2009)
Maltese legislation incorporates all obligations arising from these Conventions and is in line with the TRIPS agreement and the EU Acquis.
IPRD Management Structure
The IPRD is made up of a Trademarks Section and a Patents & Designs Section with its main functions being the registration of trademarks (including certification marks and collective marks) and designs, patenting of inventions, plus related services for these IP Rights such as renewals and assignments. Furthermore, the Directorate is responsible for the awareness of and education on intellectual property in Malta.
An IPRD Principal Officer is directly responsible for Information & Publicity as well as Educational & Training activities carried out from time to time by the Directorate.
The Industrial Property Registrations Directorate is headed by a Director who is also backed by the Assistant Director and supported by an Executive Officer providing administrative assistance.
The Trademarks Section, which is the core of the IPRD’s business, is made up of three Examiners whose main duties are the examinations of new trademark applications as well as related or preliminary search requests.
The currently smaller Patents & Designs Section is headed by a Principal Scientific Officer, and is planned to also include another two Scientific Officers, responsible for inspecting and authorising patent and design grants
Both Sections are further supported by 6 Clerks, an Executive Officer and an Assistant Principal who carry out the necessary back office processing of Payments, Data Entry, Publications, Renewals, Assignments, Seniorities, Pre-Searching, Data-Entry and other related duties.
Additional horizontal members of staff include Registry Officers, Messenger, as well as minor staff shared with the other Directorates
Apart from the Director’s Office, the Front Office, the Cash Office and the Back Office making up the IPRD, a Business Care Unit has been set up since 2006 to provide front-office information including the patenting of inventions and the registration of trademarks and designs.
The Industrial Property Registrations Directorate’s structure, reporting to the Director General (Commerce), who is also the Comptroller of Industrial Property, is as follows:
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