Montenegro Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in montenegro, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals
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Protecting Intellectual Property
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Montenegro’s legal framework for intellectual property rights aligns with EU standards and international conventions (WIPO, TRIPS). In December 2024, the country provisionally closed Chapter 7 (Intellectual Property Law) in the EU accession negotiations, reflecting substantial legislative alignment with EU law.

Despite this legal structure, enforcement remains weak and inconsistent. Infringement, especially counterfeiting and software piracy, is not uncommon, and prosecutions are rare, while administrative delays do occasionally occur in trademark and patent registrations. Authorities, such as Customs and the Market Inspectorate, confiscate counterfeit goods, which are typically destroyed, though public reporting is limited. In 2023, Montenegro adopted amendments to its Law on Copyright and Related Rights, improving digital IP protection and bringing legislation further in line with EU directives.  Preparation of legislation related to artificial intelligence is underway and is expected to align with EU requirements. Montenegro conducts seizures of counterfeit goods, mainly clothing, accessories, and pirated content, but official statistics are not consistently published.  Legal provisions for prosecution exist, but few cases result in convictions, and penalties are often minimal. Montenegro is not listed in the 2023 USTR Special 301 Report nor the USTR Notorious Markets Report, and no major physical or online markets have been flagged as high-risk. Montenegro became a member of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in 2006, with more information available on the WIPO’s website.

In any foreign market, companies should consider several general principles for effective protection of their intellectual property. For background, please see the following article on Protecting Intellectual Property and Stopfakes.gov for more resources.  The IPR Contact for Montenegro is:

Zoya Vasylieva, IP Assistant

zoya.vasylieva@trade.gov                          

 

To access Montenegro’s Investment Climate Statement, which includes information on the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights, visit the U.S. Department of State Investment Climate Statement website.

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