This is a brief overview of Georgia’s copyright and trademark rules as of 2025, including what is protected, how to register, and your legal rights.
Copyright Laws in Georgia
Automatic Protection: Whether or whether a creative work is published or registered, it automatically acquires copyright the moment it is fixed in tangible form. Literary, artistic, and scientific works, such as books, music, software, movies, photographs, artwork, dance, and more, are covered by these regulations.
What Is Not Protected: The fundamental techniques, concepts, or procedures are not protected; only the particular way in which they are expressed is. Copyright does not apply to official papers, state symbols (such as flags and anthems), or regulatory items.
Duration: Joint works are protected for 70 years following the passing of the last living co-author; the author’s lifetime plus an additional 70 years is the duration of the copyright.
Although it is not required for protection, registration is strongly advised if you want to prohibit online infringement, enforce your rights, or seek damages. The National Intellectual Property Center (Sakpatenti) is in charge of registration, which normally entails sending in the work, authorship documentation, and payment. Residents and non-residents are both eligible to apply.
International Protection: Because Georgia is a signatory to several important treaties, including the WIPO Copyright Treaty and the Berne Convention, works created abroad may be protected by Georgian law and vice versa.
Trademark Laws in Georgia
What’s Safe:Any visual cue that sets one company’s products or services apart from another—words, names, logos, designs, colors, sounds, or packaging—can be registered as a trademark. For complete protection, you must register the mark and use it in commerce.
Registration Procedure: To apply for national protection, use Sakpatenti. Additionally, Georgia accepts international accords (Paris Convention, Madrid Protocol) that permit local trademarks to be used to protect goods in more than 100 nations. Usually valid for ten years, registration can be extended indefinitely in increments of ten years.
Recent Updates (2025): Trademark owners must update and clarify parameters in their applications and registrations due to amendments. Owners are encouraged to respond quickly by the exemption from fees for updates requested before March 7, 2025. Updates after that are paid for.
Protection & Enforcement: The exclusive right to use the mark, pursue damages, stop infringement, and avoid confusion in the marketplace are all granted by registration. Unauthorized use of identical names, trademarks, or packaging that could deceive customers is considered infringement.
Geographical Indications: Georgia has ratified the Lisbon Agreement’s Geneva Act, which permits regional brands—also known as appellations of origin or geographical indications—to be protected in dozens of foreign jurisdictions under a single application.
Key Takeaways for Residents & Businesses
| Law | Coverage | Duration | Enforcement/Registration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copyright | Literary, artistic, scientific works; software, music, films | Lifetime + 70 years | Automatic; registration optional but useful |
| Trademark | Logos, brands, names, packaging, colors; product differentiation | 10 years, renewable | Must be registered via Sakpatenti for full protection |
It’s critical to comprehend these rules in order to safeguard Georgia’s corporate assets and creative output. Your prospects of enforcing your intellectual property in the event of disputes or infringement might be increased by proactive registration and thorough labeling of rights.
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