The short answer
In Lithuania a mark is registered for ten years from the filing date and renewed for periods of up to ten years. A renewal request can still be made within six months after expiry on payment of an additional fee. Opposition is open for three months from publication. A mark not genuinely used for a continuous five-year period can be revoked. Lithuania is an EU member, so an EU trade mark also covers it.
Trademark deadlines in Lithuania at a glance
These rules come from the Law on Trademarks of the Republic of Lithuania (Law No. VIII-1981 of 10 October 2000, consolidated to 2022) in the English text on WIPO Lex. Fees are fixed by separate acts, so we confirm them before we file.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How long does a trademark last? | Ten years from the date of filing of the application, renewable each time for not longer than ten years (Articles 62 and 63). |
| Which date does the term count from? | The filing date of the application (Article 62). |
| When can I renew? | The State Patent Bureau notifies the proprietor at least six months before expiry. Registration is renewed by decision of the Bureau once the fixed fee is paid, for all or part of the goods or services (Article 63). |
| Is there a grace period? | Yes. On payment of the additional renewal fee, a request for renewal can be submitted within six months following the day of expiry (Article 63). |
| Opposition period | Interested persons may file a reasoned written opposition with the Appeals Division within three months following the publication of the application, on payment of the fixed fee. The notice of opposition can be based on one or more earlier rights belonging to the same proprietor, and only one notice can be filed against one application (Article 56). |
| Reply to an office action | The applicant has two months to respond to a notification of grounds for refusal, and a written appeal against a decision to the Appeals Division is filed within two months of the decision being sent (Articles 46 and following). |
| Priority claim | An application filed within six months of the first filing in a Paris Convention country, or an exhibition priority within six months of the first display, can claim priority (the priority provisions of the Law). |
| Non-use | A trade mark is liable to revocation if, within a continuous five-year period, it has not been genuinely used in Lithuania for the registered goods or services without proper reasons. Use started or resumed after the five years and before the revocation request prevents revocation, unless it started within three months before the request after the owner learned of it (Article 23). |
| Assignment | Changes of the owner, the owner's address or the representative are recorded in the Register of Trade Marks. We confirm the formalities with the Bureau. |
Who can register a trademark in Lithuania
An applicant files with the State Patent Bureau and pays the fixed fee. A representative may file on the applicant's behalf (Article 38).
Representation. Foreign natural persons who are not permanent residents of Lithuania or another EU or EEA State, and foreign legal persons without a branch or representative office in Lithuania or another EU or EEA State, must file through a Lithuanian patent attorney (Article 38).
Trademark registration process in Lithuania
Search
- Search the the State Patent Bureau of the Republic of Lithuania (VPB) records for identical or similar marks in your classes.
File the application
- File with the the State Patent Bureau of the Republic of Lithuania (VPB), through a Lithuanian patent attorney.
- Claim priority at filing if you filed abroad recently.
Examination
- The office examines the application and tells you in writing if there is a problem. We reply within the time set in the notice.
Publication and opposition
- An accepted application is published.
- After publication, interested persons can file a reasoned written opposition with the Appeals Division within three months (Article 56).
Registration
- If there is no opposition, or it fails, the mark is registered and a certificate is issued.
Official fees are set by the the State Patent Bureau of the Republic of Lithuania (VPB) and change. We confirm the current fee for your classes before we quote, so the figure you see is the one that applies on the day.
Lithuania trademark validity and renewal
- A registration lasts ten years from the filing date.
- The Bureau reminds the proprietor six months before expiry.
- Renew within the six months after expiry with an additional fee.
- Use the mark to avoid revocation after five years of non-use.
Diarise the expiry from the filing date and renew before it to avoid the additional fee.
Assignment, licence and changes to a Lithuanian trademark
Register data
Recorded
Changes of owner, address and representative are recorded in the Register.
Revocation
Appeals Division
A revocation or invalidity request goes to the Appeals Division with a fee (Article 58).
Non-use defence
In opposition
Non-use can be used as a defence in opposition and invalidity proceedings (Articles 57 and 59).
EU trade mark
Parallel route
The EU Trade Mark Regulation applies in Lithuania (Article 78).
Non-use and cancellation of a Lithuanian trademark
A registration is revoked for five years without genuine use (Article 23) or if the mark has become generic or misleading (Article 24). A request is filed with the Appeals Division and a fee is paid (Article 58).
Keep dated proof of use in Lithuania: invoices, packaging, advertising and website pages that show the mark with the goods or services.
How to check a trademark in Lithuania
Search the VPB register and the Official Bulletin for the publication, registration and renewal dates.
Sources used
- Law on Trademarks of the Republic of Lithuania (Law No. VIII-1981 of 10 October 2000, consolidated 2022), English text on WIPO Lex: Articles 23, 24, 38, 56 to 59, 62, 63 and 78.
- The State Patent Bureau for fees, forms and the current procedure.
Lithuania trademark FAQ
How long does a trademark last in Lithuania, and from when?
Ten years from the date of filing of the application, renewable each time for not longer than ten years (Articles 62 and 63). It counts from the filing date (Article 62).
When should I renew a Lithuanian trademark, and is there a grace period?
The State Patent Bureau notifies the proprietor at least six months before expiry. Registration is renewed by decision of the Bureau once the fixed fee is paid, for all or part of the goods or services (Article 63).
What is the opposition period in Lithuania?
Interested persons may file a reasoned written opposition with the Appeals Division within three months following the publication of the application, on payment of the fixed fee. The notice of opposition can be based on one or more earlier rights belonging to the same proprietor, and only one notice can be filed against one application (Article 56).
How much does it cost to register a trademark in Lithuania?
The official fee is set by the the State Patent Bureau of the Republic of Lithuania (VPB) and changes. We confirm the current fee for your classes and quote the full cost before filing.
Can a foreign company register a trademark in Lithuania?
Yes. A foreign applicant from outside the EU and EEA must file through a Lithuanian patent attorney (Article 38). We arrange this.
Can I assign a Lithuanian trademark?
Changes of the owner, the owner's address or the representative are recorded in the Register of Trade Marks. We confirm the formalities with the Bureau.
Can a Lithuanian trademark be cancelled for non-use?
A trade mark is liable to revocation if, within a continuous five-year period, it has not been genuinely used in Lithuania for the registered goods or services without proper reasons. Use started or resumed after the five years and before the revocation request prevents revocation, unless it started within three months before the request after the owner learned of it (Article 23).
How can I check the status of a Lithuanian trademark?
Use the the State Patent Bureau of the Republic of Lithuania (VPB) register and check the publication, registration and renewal dates.
Can I claim priority from my home country?
An application filed within six months of the first filing in a Paris Convention country, or an exhibition priority within six months of the first display, can claim priority (the priority provisions of the Law).
How do I change the owner's name or address?
Record the change with the the State Patent Bureau of the Republic of Lithuania (VPB) so notices and renewal reminders reach the right address. Ask us for the current form.
Protect your brand in Lithuania
SUPREMEiP® files trademarks worldwide through its network and checks every Lithuanian deadline against the law. Send us your mark and we will tell you the route, the deadlines and the cost.
