Albania, still without a real patent search system

2026-05-20 16:06:00, Aktualitet CNA

An entrepreneur in Tirana may come up with an idea today that seems completely original to him. He may invest months of work, money, and technological development to turn it into a product, without knowing that the same solution may have existed for years in a laboratory in Germany, a startup in the US, or a company in Asia.

The Albanian patent system still does not have a proper international search mechanism to fully document this.

A manual from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), adapted to the Albanian reality, highlights that in the practice of the General Directorate of Industrial Property (DPPI), the patent search process is not based on a dedicated international database system for identifying existing patents in the world.

The document explains that during the examination phase, research for existing patents is "incorporated" into the process, but there is no special program or automated system that performs full searches in global patent databases.

This means that an invention or idea that is considered "new" in Albania may have previously existed abroad, creating a risk of legal conflicts, subsequent rejections, or loss of value for businesses that invest in innovation.

In the global technology economy, international patent research is considered a critical step before a company invests in development, production or market entry.

The manual itself warns that startups that neglect the intellectual property system could face "fatal" consequences, as it may turn out that someone else has previously registered a similar solution.

At a time when Albania is trying to build an ecosystem of startups and technological innovation, the lack of an advanced patent research infrastructure is seen as a weak link. This becomes even more important for Albanian startups targeting international markets, where patent and intellectual property disputes are among the most costly battles for technology companies.

The report also highlights that patents are territorial and tied to specific jurisdictions, while international patent databases are a vital source of technical and commercial information.

Another element that raises discussion is the fact that the DPPI does not conduct a full substantive examination of the patent at the initial stage.

According to the document, a patent granted in Albania retains legal effect only if the owner later presents international proof of patentability from specialized foreign offices. Otherwise, after 10 years it loses legal effect.

In practice, this shifts some of the burden of verification onto businesses and applicants themselves, who must invest in legal expertise and international research to ensure that their idea or technology is actually protectable.

Innovation experts have long raised concerns that Albania still has a weak patenting culture. Many businesses focus on selling the product or marketing, while legal protection of the technology, algorithm, design or brand is seen as a secondary step.

In a market where copying remains high and capital for research and development is limited, this creates a fragile terrain for innovative ventures./ Monitor Magazine