Albania trademark search: check whether your name is available

Why the search comes before the application

Every payment on the platform and every step with the office is non-refundable, even when the office refuses the mark. If an application is refused because a similar earlier mark exists, you lose time, money and often the work done on the logo and packaging.

A search serves entrepreneurs choosing a name, businesses launching a new product and representatives preparing a client's application. A good check today costs far less than changing a name after years of investment.

Where to search: four registers in one search

Under Search you search four registers at once, each in its own tab with the number of results:

• the marks of Albania – the DPPI register;
• the marks of Kosovo – the register of the Kosovo Industrial Property Agency (KIPA);
• companies registered with QKB (National Business Centre);
• companies registered with ARBK (Business Registration Agency, Kosovo).

You filter marks by owner, representative, number, Nice class, status or year. Every mark has its own public page, which you can download as a PDF extract. DPPI publishes marks in the Industrial Property Bulletin; trademark.al splits the bulletin by mark, with an image of the bulletin page as proof and the publication reference. You can also browse the register by year or by Nice class.

How to run a trademark search, step by step

1. Type the name exactly as you will use it.
2. Try the variants: with or without a space, with double letters, with or without the letter ë, words that sound the same and the translation, if the name has a meaning in another language.
3. Search the distinctive part separately from generic words such as “shop”, “group” or “center”.
4. Go through the tabs: Albania's marks, then Kosovo's and the QKB and ARBK companies.
5. Narrow by the class of your goods or services and open every mark that looks close.

As a visitor you have 5 different searches per session and up to 5 pages of results per search; with an account you search without limits. In your dashboard, Magic Search lets you choose the country, the office and the field – the name, the application or registration number, the owner, the representative, the goods or the NIPT – and export the results to CSV, PDF or Word, up to 1,000 rows.

How to read the results

The status

A mark may be filed, under examination, published for opposition, registered, renewed, expired, refused or withdrawn. Expired, refused or withdrawn marks are usually no longer an obstacle, but check the dates: a “published” mark can be registered as soon as the opposition period ends.

Classes and goods

A similar name for completely unrelated goods is often less of a problem than a similar name in the same class or a related one – except for well-known marks, which enjoy broader protection.

The owner and the register fields

Registers use WIPO's standard codes (INID): (540) the representation of the mark, (511) the classes and goods, (591) the colours claimed, (730) the owner and (740) the representative. Albania's national marks have numbers in the form AL/T/year/number.

The office assesses similarity in appearance, sound and meaning: if “Kola” exists for soft drinks and someone applies for “Koola” for the same drinks, the high similarity and identical goods create a likelihood of confusion.

What no search can show

• Unpublished applications. They appear only once the office publishes them.
• Logos. The search compares names, not logos; for a figurative mark, talk to your representative about a visual comparison.
• The office's decision. The result informs you; it does not guarantee registration and is not a legal opinion – DPPI decides.
• Register delays. The data is updated regularly but may be delayed or contain errors; the official source remains the office's register.

From search to application: the name check in the form

At step 2 of the 9-step application form, the name check automatically shows you very similar register marks and active companies – up to 10 of each – marked as identical or with their similarity percentage. It informs you; it does not stop you. At the last step the check runs again with the classes you chose; if there are risky marks, you must expressly accept the risk to continue.

When the name looks available, do not wait: the longer you wait, the greater the chance that someone else files first. You will find the full steps under registering a trademark in Albania and in the article Searching before you apply.

Common search mistakes

• Searching only for the identical name, without the spelling and pronunciation variants.
• Forgetting Kosovo. Protection is territorial; if you also sell there, check Kosovo's marks too.
• Relying on the company name. Registering with QKB does not give you the rights of a trademark; see the company search.
• Ignoring the risk just because you like the name. With your representative, consider adding a distinctive element, changing the part that is similar or limiting the goods.

Frequently asked questions

Can I search Albania's trademarks without an account?

Yes. As a visitor you have 5 different searches per session and up to 5 pages of results per search. With an account you search without limits; exporting results needs an account. Creating an account is free.

How do I know whether my trademark name is available?

Search the marks of Albania and Kosovo and the QKB and ARBK companies, then let the name check in the form compare them with the classes you choose. The result does not include unpublished applications, compares names and is not a legal opinion: consult a licensed representative before you apply.

Why can't I find a mark I know was applied for?

Applications appear only once the office publishes them. The search compares names, not logos: also try the application or registration number, or the owner's name.

Are logos checked too?

No, there is no search by logo. For figurative elements there is the Vienna Classification, which helps offices and representatives find similar logos; talk to your representative about a visual comparison.

Is a search in Albania enough if I also sell in Kosovo?

No. A mark registered in Albania does not protect you in Kosovo, and vice versa. Check the Kosovo tabs as well and, if the name is available, apply in both countries.

Check your name today

One search across the marks of Albania and Kosovo and the QKB and ARBK businesses. When the name looks available, apply with the 9-step form.

• Search a trademark
• Apply for a trademark
• Nice classes
• Sign up