AGEPI Adopts Practice Paper CP14 “Trade Marks Contrary to Public Policy and/or To Accepted Principles of Morality”

The State Agency on Intellectual Property of the Republic of Moldova (AGEPI), in close collaboration with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), has prepared a Practice Paper on Trade Marks Contrary to Public Policy or to Accepted Principles of Morality, as part of joint institutional cooperation efforts.

The Practice Paper has been prepared in line with the Common Communication resulting of the Common Practice CP14 developed by the European Intellectual Property Network (EUIPN). Adapted to the national legal and institutional framework, the paper provides a detailed presentation of AGEPI’s quality standards regarding the examination of trade marks that are contrary to public policy or to accepted principles of morality, as well as a clear and comprehensive explanation of the principles on which the Practice is based. The paper, applied by the member intellectual property offices of the EUIPN, will be implemented by AGEPI as of 1 July 2025.

This initiative represents a concrete result of the cooperation between AGEPI and EUIPO in the process of harmonization and convergence of practices in the field of intellectual property, contributing to the strengthening of international partnerships in the field.

The EUIPO, together with the IP offices of the Member States of the European Union, actively supports the countries candidate for accession to the EU in the process of approximation of IP practices, within the framework of the “Team Europe” approach. In this context, the EU4IP project, implemented by the EUIPO, plays a key role in supporting AGEPI in the process of adopting harmonized practices.

The main purpose of the Practice Paper is to ensure greater clarity, transparency, legal certainty and predictability for the benefit of examiners and users of the IP system alike.

The Practice Paper is available in Romanian and English and is structured in two parts: the first part contains a synthesis of the key messages and statements concerning the practice principles, and the second part provides a detailed and coherent explanation of these principles. The paper can also serve as a reference for all interested parties.

The Practice Paper, in Romanian and English, can be consulted below:

CP14 Document Practic_Moldova_RO

CP14 Document Practic_Apendice_RO

CP14 Document Practic_Moldova_EN

CP14_Document_Practic_Appendix_EN

AGEPI has previously published other practice papers available in Romanian and English:

CP 5 Practice Paper of Relative Grounds for Refusal – Likelihood of Confusion (Impact of Non-Distinctive/Weak Components) (EN, RO)

CP 9 Distinctiveness of Three-Dimensional Marks Containing Verbal and/or Figurative Elements When the Shape is Not Distinctive in Itself  (EN, RO)

CP 10 Criteria for Assessing Disclosure of Designs on the Internet   (EN, RO)