Netherlands (NL)

The Netherlands informally Holland, is a country located in Western Europe with territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. In Europe, the Netherlands consists of twelve provinces, bordering Germany to the east, Belgium to the south, and the North Sea to the northwest, with maritime borders in the North Sea with those countries and the United Kingdom. The Caribbean, it consists of three special municipalities: the islands of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba. The country’s official language is Dutch, with West Frisian as a secondary official language in the province of Friesland, and English and Papiamento as secondary official languages in the Caribbean Netherlands. Dutch Low Saxon and Limburgish are recognized regional languages (spoken in the east and southeast respectively), while Dutch Sign Language, Sinte Romani, and Yiddish are recognized non-territorial languages.

Intellectual property protection in Netherlands

Intellectual property office Bureau for Intellectual Property Sint Maarten
Website http://www.bip.sx/
Contact details Professional Office Park
Osprey Drive #4
Building 2, Unit 2A
Philipsburg, Sint Maarten
(1721) 543 35 00

Patent

Time limit applicable for entry into the PCT national phase PCT applications can only be nationalised via European route
Time limit applicable for filing Conventional application 12 months from the priority date
Language English or Dutch
Representation Foreign applicants must be represented by a Dutch Patent Attorney or European Patent Attorney
Power of Attorney Not required

Trademark

Filing requirements

The application is filed through the Benelux Office for Intellectual Property (BOIP), and therefore protection will be granted in the three member countries i.e., Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg.

  • A request to register a mark
  • Name and address of the applicant(s)
  • Representation of the mark
  • List of good(s) and/or service(s)
Multiple-class applications Yes
Power of Attorney Not required
Opposition period Within two months from publication of the application
Representation Foreign applicants must be represented by a registered design attorney having a place of residence or registered office within the EU or EEA

Industrial Design

Filing requirements
  • A request to register a design
  • Name and address of the applicant(s)
  • Representation of the design
Multiple design applications Yes, up to 50
Power of Attorney Not required
Examination Formal examination
Representation Foreign applicants must be represented by a registered design attorney having a place of residence or registered office within the EU or EEA

Source: WIPO and Wikipedia