Latvia will rename Patent Office as intellectual property office

Latvia’s Cabinet of Ministers on Tuesday backed a proposal to rename the Patent Office the Latvian Intellectual Property Office from January 1, 2027, LSM reported. The new name is intended to better reflect the agency’s responsibilities and role in the country’s intellectual property system.

Justice Minister Edvards Smiltēns of the United List said intellectual property protection was not only a legal matter, but also part of building Latvia’s economy and strengthening its competitiveness.

The Patent Office’s current name is historically linked to patents, but its remit is broader. It registers invention patents, including supplementary protection certificates for medicines and plant protection products, as well as trademarks, industrial designs and semiconductor product topographies. Since December 1, 2025, it has also served as the competent authority in the national stage of registration procedures for geographical indications for craft and industrial products.

The agency also works to improve public understanding of intellectual property, provides information and support to businesses and the research community, and represents Latvia in European and international intellectual property systems.

Patent Office Director Agris Batalauskis said patents would remain an important part of the agency’s work, but the new name better described its wider remit. He said the agency aimed to be both a professional registration body and a trusted partner in Latvia’s innovation ecosystem, helping connect intellectual property protection with the commercialisation of innovation and business growth.