Intellectual Property Services in Moldova
A brand, an invention, or a creative work has legal protection in Moldova only if that protection is properly established and maintained. BULR provides intellectual property services in Moldova across trademark registration, copyright, and IP rights protection — from initial registration through enforcement against infringement.
BULR is a private legal and business advisory firm. We do not represent any government authority or issue official government documents.
Intellectual property in Moldova — registration, rights, and protection
Intellectual property rights in Moldova are administered by the State Agency on Intellectual Property (AGEPI), which operates under the Law on Trademarks No. 38/2008, the Law on Copyright and Related Rights No. 139/2010, and the Law on Inventions No. 50/2008. Registration with AGEPI establishes the legal basis for exclusive rights — and without registration, enforcing those rights against infringement is significantly harder.
For businesses operating in Moldova, IP protection matters across several dimensions: protecting the brand and trademarks used in the market, securing copyright over creative and technical works produced by employees or contractors, and ensuring that IP assets are properly reflected in the corporate structure — particularly in transactions, due diligence, and investor relationships. BULR handles trademark registration, copyright advisory, and IP rights protection in Moldova — from the initial filing through to enforcement when rights are violated.
IP registration and protection — how we work
Five stages from initial assessment to protected and enforceable rights. You build the business — we secure the legal foundation for what it owns.
IP Audit and Protection Priorities
We identify what IP assets exist — trademarks, copyright, patents, trade secrets — and what protection is currently in place. We advise on priorities, risks from unregistered rights, and the correct registration route for each asset category.
Searches and Application Package
For trademarks, we conduct a clearance search with AGEPI before filing — identifying conflicting marks and advising on classification strategy. For patents and industrial designs, we assess patentability and prepare the filing documentation. For copyright, we advise on ownership structures and documentation.
From Submission, AGEPI Coordination and Examination
We file the application and manage all interactions with AGEPI through the examination process — responding to office actions, monitoring publication, handling the opposition period, and tracking the registration through to certificate issuance.
If Rights Are Violated, Action Against Infringement
Where IP rights are infringed, we advise on the most effective enforcement route — administrative complaint to AGEPI, civil proceedings, or criminal complaint for wilful infringement — and represent the rights holder through to resolution.
Renewals, Monitoring, and Transactions
Registered rights require active maintenance. We manage renewal deadlines, monitor for infringing use, and advise on IP ownership and licensing in the context of employment contracts, corporate transactions, and due diligence.
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IP protection for every business with something to protect
If your business has a brand, a product, or a creative work — it has something worth protecting. The four situations below are where IP registration and enforcement in Moldova matter most.
Technology and IT companies
software copyright, trademark protection for products and brands, and IP ownership structures for companies operating under the IT Park regime or serving international clients.
Consumer brands and retailers
trademark registration for brand names, logos, and product lines operating in the Moldovan market, including monitoring and enforcement against counterfeit or infringing use.
Foreign companies entering Moldova
extending existing IP protection to the Moldovan market, registering trademarks with AGEPI, and ensuring that Moldovan entities in the group hold or are properly licensed to use the group’s IP assets.
Businesses in transactions
where IP assets are material to a sale, acquisition, or investment and need to be properly identified, valued, and transferred as part of the deal.
What you get when you choose right
Registration Handled Completely
Trademark searches, AGEPI filings, classification advice, and monitoring — the full registration process managed without gaps. Incorrectly classified or incomplete applications delay protection and leave rights exposed.
IP Law, Not Just Filing
Registration is the start. Ownership structures, licensing arrangements, employment contracts that correctly assign IP to the company, and enforcement when rights are violated — these require legal expertise beyond the filing itself.
IP in the Context of Your Business
IP advice integrated with corporate, transaction, and data protection work. Software copyright connects to employment contracts. Trademark registration connects to brand strategy and corporate structure. The connections matter.
International IP Coverage
Madrid System trademark applications, PCT patent filings, and advice on IP protection beyond Moldova — for businesses that need their brand and inventions protected in multiple jurisdictions, not just locally.
What people ask before they engage
How do I register a trademark in Moldova?
Trademark registration in Moldova is handled by AGEPI. The process involves a clearance search to check for conflicting marks, preparation and filing of the application specifying the goods and services to be covered under the Nice Classification, formal examination by AGEPI, publication in the Official Bulletin of Industrial Property, and — if no oppositions are filed — issuance of the registration certificate. The process typically takes six to twelve months. We manage the full process and advise on classification strategy to maximise the scope of protection.
Does Moldova recognise EU or international trademark registrations?
Moldova is a member of the Madrid System administered by WIPO, which allows trademark holders to extend protection to Moldova through an international registration — without filing a separate national application. EU trademarks do not automatically extend to Moldova, as Moldova is not an EU member state. Businesses with existing EU or international trademark registrations that want protection in Moldova need to either file a national application with AGEPI or designate Moldova in a Madrid System application. We advise on the most efficient route based on the existing IP portfolio.
Who owns copyright in works created by employees in Moldova?
Under Moldovan copyright law, copyright in works created by an employee in the performance of their employment duties belongs to the employer, unless the employment contract provides otherwise. However, the position is less clear for works created by independent contractors — where copyright typically remains with the author unless expressly assigned in writing. We advise on employment and contractor agreements that correctly address IP ownership and ensure that works created for the company are properly assigned.
What can we do if someone is using our trademark in Moldova without authorisation?
Unauthorised use of a registered trademark in Moldova can be challenged through several routes: an administrative complaint to AGEPI, civil proceedings before Moldovan courts seeking an injunction and damages, and, for deliberate infringement, a criminal complaint. The appropriate route depends on the nature of the infringement, the urgency, and the remedies sought. We assess the situation and advise on the most effective enforcement approach before any action is taken.