HARMONIZATION OF THE LEGAL REGULATIONS FOR THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OF THE REPUBLIC OF NORTH MACEDONIA WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION ACQUIS

Intellectual property (IP), as a form of property that includes the products of the human mind, is an integral part of the economic criteria that the European Commission examines when screening local legislation. The decision of the European Council in 2020 to open accession negotiations with the Republic of North Macedonia, meant that the analytical examination of the acquis (screening) would begin, which happened in 2022. The finding made in the report is that no progress was made on intellectual property law. It also emphasizes the imperative need for progress to be achieved in the coming years in order for North Macedonia to meet the European Union's requirements which would lead to the harmonization of internal legislation with that of the European Union (EU). Aware of the unsatisfactory condition of legal regulation and activity in the field of intellectual property rights, the Government of North Macedonia, one year before the start of the screening process, approved the National Strategy for Intellectual Property for the next six-year period (2022-2026). This Strategy not only provides an overview of the real situation, but also defines the goals to be achieved, as well as the means and methods for achieving the respective goals. The author, through analysis and synthesis in this empirical study, provides a clear overview of the current state of legislation and the practice of implementing intellectual property rights in the light of the latest European Commission Report on North Macedonia published in November 2023.