A new Trademark Act entered into effect in Slovakia on March 1, 1997. The new Act is very similar to the Trademark Act that entered into force in the Czech Republic in 1995, which was summarized in our August 1996 Newsletter (N.S. 187). However, the new Act contains one notable difference from the provisions we previously summarized, namely, certain inherently unregistrable marks may be accepted for registration if they have acquired distinctiveness through use for at least 1 year (not 2 years as in the Czech Republic) prior to the filing of the application.

Slovakia has also ratified the Trademark Law Treaty which entered into force in this country on July 9, 1997.