Albania improves domain registration, patents

TIRANA, April 30 – As of May 1, all procedures such as new registrations, renewals, deactivations and data changes, will be performed by one of the registrars authorized by the Albanian Electronic and Postal Communication Authority (AKEP).
That will lead to a decrease in the official fees for the registration of new and the renewal of existing domain names.
The changes aim to liberalize the purchase of country code top-level domains (ccTLDs) under the .al zone, by granting this right to foreign companies, provided that they can prove that they do business in their countries.
Earlier this month the Albanian parliament approved the Draft law on Albania’s accession to the London Agreement, which was concluded on October 17, 2000 with the aim to decrease translation costs for European patents granted under the European Patent Convention. It is an optional agreement between European Patent Organization member states.
According to the current patent law in Albania, the translation of European patents into Albanian is required.
After the agreement comes into force in Albania, and following the related patent law amendments, Albania will no longer require Albanian translation of a European patent if the patent was granted in English or submitted with an English translation for protection in Albania.
If the patent was not granted in English, but in German or French, a translation into English or Albanian will be required.