Malta’s legislation for
the protection and enforcement of Intellectual Property rights has been
recently reinforced with the influx of EU legislation on the matter coming in
with Malta’s accession to the EU in 2004. In fact, the introduction of the
Copyright Act (Chapter 415 of the Laws of Malta), the Trademarks Act (Chapter
416 of the Laws of Malta) and the Patents and Designs Act (Chapter 417 of the
Laws of Malta) led to a steady increase in Intellectual Property litigation in
the Maltese Law courts. Malta’s Intellectual Property regime has also been
ameliorated due to Malta being a member of WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organisation),
UCC (Universal Copyright Convention), WTO (World Trade Organisation), the Paris
Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property and the Berne Convention
for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works. In 2006 Malta acceded to the
EPC (European Patent Convention).