Country fiches: Cyprus

In Cyprus, general provisions of criminal procedure apply to the investigation and prosecution of intellectual property crimes. These crime fall under the general rules of jurisdiction.

Verification pending

National legislation

National legislation on intellectual property crimes

Copyright violations

Articles 14 - 14C of the Copyright and Related Rights Law of 1976 (59/1976)

Copyright and Related Rights Law:
Ο περί του Δικαιώματος Πνευματικής Ιδιοκτησίας και Συγγενικών Δικαιωμάτων Νόμος του 1976 - 59/1976

Counterfeiting of trademark

Articles 81 - 83 of the Trademark Law (63(I)/2020), chapter 268

Trademark Law:
Ο περί Εμπορικών Σημάτων Νόμος - ΚΕΦ.268

Industrial design violations

Article 25 and 25 (C) of the Legal Protection of Industrial Designs Law of 2002 (4(I)/2002)

Legal Protection of Industrial Designs Law:
Ο περί της Νομικής Προστασίας των Βιομηχανικών Σχεδίων και Υποδειγμάτων Νόμος του 2002 - 4(I)/2002

Violations of geographical indications of origin

Articles 34 - 36 of the Law on Appellation of Origin and Geographical Indications for Agricultural Products and Foodstuffs (139(I)/2006)

Law on Appellation of Origin and Geographical Indications for Agricultural Products and Foodstuffs (not updated):
WIPO Lex, Cyprus, Law of 2006, on Appellation of Origin and Geographical Indications for Agricultural Products and Foodstuffs

Trade Secrets violations

Violations of trade secrets do not constitute a criminal offence under national law in Cyprus. These violations are dealt with by Civil Law.

Other IP rights

Section 12 of Law No 61(I)/2018 on the control of circulation of goods infringing IPRs provides for criminal sanctions in cases involving the import or export of goods that violate IPRs.

National contacts

Law Enforcement Agencies

IP crimes are investigated by a specialised unit within the Cyprus Police called Office for Combating Intellectual Property Theft and Illegal Gambling, which is part of the Crime Combating Department.

Office for Combating Intellectual Property Theft and Illegal Gambling

iprc@police.gov.cy

+357 22808200

Evangelou Floraki Street, p.c. 1478 Nicosia

Αστυνομία Κύπρου | Τμήμα Καταπολέμησης Εγκλήματος (police.gov.cy)

Prosecution

The prosecution of IP crimes falls under the general compentece of the Attorney General’s Office. There is no specialised unit dealing with IP crime prosecution.

Attorney General’s Office

att.gen@law.gov.cy

+357 22889100

Apelli 1, P.C. 1080, 1403 Nicosia

List of Public Prosecutor’s Offices and their contacts details can be found here

Αρχική | Νομική Υπηρεσία της Δημοκρατίας (law.gov.cy)

Judiciary

There are no specialised courts on IP crime in Cyprus. This type of crime falls under the general court system. The general courts are organised in a two-tier system, composed of:

District Courts (for offences punishable by a term of imprisonment not exceeding five years and/or a fine not exceeding (£ 50,000);
Assize Courts (for offences punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding five years);
The Supreme Court.