Intellectual Property In Cyprus

Intellectual property (IP) is an evolving field that affects the functioning of the world at large. Its range of influence is immense, since it dominates areas of technology, social development and economic growth. It encapsulates a number of separate areas of creation. Article 2 of the World Intellectual Property Convention of 1968 defines IP as including:


Literary, artistic and scientific works;
Performances of performing artists, phonograms and broadcasts;
Inventions in all fields of human endeavour;
Scientific discoveries;
Industrial designs;
Trademarks, service marks and commercial names and designations;
Protection against unfair competition; and
All other rights resulting from intellectual activity in the industrial, scientific, literary or artistic fields.


Cyprus


In recent years, IP protection in Cyprus has attracted much attention. This can be attributed mainly to the increasing importance of Cyprus as an international commercial centre and to its recent accession to the European Union, which has resulted in a greater awareness of the need to protect IP rights.


Cyprus has been developing this area of law along with the rest of the world so as to protect local as well as international IP rights. It is a signatory to a number of treaties and the latest amendments  to  its  IP  law  bring  Cyprus  into  line  with  the  acquis  communautaire, international IP laws and the surrounding concepts. The courts and authorities in Cyprus adhere strictly to the relevant provisions of the law so as to ensure the protection of intellectual property rights against piracy and infringement.