TRADEMARK PROTECTION AND VIOLATIONS IN REPUBLIC OF NORT MACEDONIA

Intellectual property is one of the most current and developing branches in today's age. In legal terms, intellectual property has a universal language. The term industrial property comes from French law, so the term has its roots in the text of the French Patent Act of 1791, the first patent law in Europe. While emphasizing the importance of industrial property and its rapid development within the scope of intellectual property, we should also consider the increasing crimes in this area. Therefore, in the context of industrial property, the protection of trademarks and their violations is important. Industrial and intellectual property drive innovation and boost our modern, knowledge-based economy. When discussing IP, we refer to patents,trademarks, and industrial designs. These legal protections encourage inventors and businesses to pour resources into research and development, knowing that their ideas will be safeguarded. By protecting these innovations, IP not only sparks creativity but also helps bring new technologies and products to market. Within the scope of our article, the importance of the brand in the context of industrial rights will be emphasized. Brands play a very important role in the modern market economy by distinguishing the products or services of one business from another. Brands play a very important role in the global economy because they symbolize the quality and origin of goods and services. The Republic of North Macedonia, a member of the World Intellectual Property Organization and has signed various international agreements regarding the protection of trademark registration, accepts the importance of protecting intellectual property rights in general. The Industrial Property Law primarily governs the legal framework for trademark protection in North Macedonia. Another law that should be considered in this context is the Macedonian Criminal Code;more precisely, the importance of the sanctions for violating industrial property rights should be emphasized. Despite the existence of the legal framework, there is an increase in trademark registration violations in North Macedonia due to the widespread use of trademark registration without permission. Limited resources, a lack of expertise, and a slow judicial system often hamper the establishment of trademark registration rights.