Patent
For a patent application in Albania, a power of attorney signed by the applicant and bearing the company seal must be submitted within 3 months of the date of the Office's notification. The invention is published within 18 months. Oppositions can be filed within 9 months of publication. A patent is protected for 20 years from the first filing date.
Utility model
For inventions that are new but do not involve an inventive step, a utility model application should be filed instead of a patent application. Utility model protection lasts 10 years. Pharmaceutical inventions, i.e. inventions in the field where chemistry and pharmacy meet, can be protected for an additional 5 years.