In Estonia, general provisions of criminal procedure apply to the investigation and prosecution of intellectual property crimes. These crimes fall under the general rules of jurisdiction.
Verified in October 2023
Country fiches: Estonia
National legislation
National legislation on intellectual property crimes
Copyright violations
Articles 219, 222 to 2251 of the Penal Code
Penal Code:
Penal Code–Riigi Teataja
Penal Code–Riigi Teataja
Copyright Act, passed on 11 November 1992, RT I 1992, 49, 615
Copyright Act:
Autoriõiguse seadus–Riigi Teataja
Autoriõiguse seadus–Riigi Teataja
Counterfeiting of trademark
Articles 226 and 227 of the Penal Code
Penal Code:
Penal Code–Riigi Teataja
Penal Code–Riigi Teataja
Trade Marks Act, passed on 22 May 2002, RT I 2002, 49, 308
Trade Marks Act:
Kaubamärgiseadus–Riigi Teataja
Kaubamärgiseadus–Riigi Teataja
Patent violations
Article 226 of the Penal Code
Penal Code:
Penal Code–Riigi Teataja
Penal Code–Riigi Teataja
Patents Act, passed on 16 March 1994, RT I 1994, 25, 406
Patents Act:
Patendiseadus–Riigi Teataja
Patendiseadus–Riigi Teataja
Industrial design violations
Article 226 of the Penal Code
Penal Code:
Penal Code–Riigi Teataja
Penal Code–Riigi Teataja
Industrial Design Protection Act, passed on 18 November 1997, RT I 1997, 87, 1466
Industrial Design Protection Act:
Tööstusdisaini kaitse seadus–Riigi Teataja
Tööstusdisaini kaitse seadus–Riigi Teataja
Violations of geographical indications of origin
Article 226 of the Penal Code
Penal Code:
Penal Code–Riigi Teataja
Penal Code–Riigi Teataja
Geographical Indication Protection Act, passed on 15 December 1999, RT I 1999, 102, 907
Geographical Indication Protection Act:
Geograafilise tähise kaitse seadus–Riigi Teataja
Geograafilise tähise kaitse seadus–Riigi Teataja
Violations of plant variety rights
Article 226 of the Penal Code
Penal Code:
Penal Code–Riigi Teataja
Penal Code–Riigi Teataja
Plant Propagation and Plant Variety Rights Act, passed on 08 December 2005, RT I 2005, 70, 540
Plant Propagation and Plant Variety Rights Act:
Taimede paljundamise ja sordikaitse seadus–Riigi Teataja
Taimede paljundamise ja sordikaitse seadus–Riigi Teataja
Trade Secrets violations
Article 377 of the Penal Code
Penal Code:
Penal Code–Riigi Teataja
Penal Code–Riigi Teataja
Restriction of Unfair Competition and Protection of Business Secrets Act, passed on 21 November 2018
Restriction of Unfair Competition and Protection of Business Secrets Act:
Ebaausa konkurentsi takistamise ja ärisaladuse kaitse seadus–Riigi Teataja
Ebaausa konkurentsi takistamise ja ärisaladuse kaitse seadus–Riigi Teataja
National contacts
National contacts
Law Enforcement Agencies
IP crime investigation falls under the competences of the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board.
There is no specialised unit to investigate IP crimes.
Estonian Police and Border Guard Board
Pärnu mnt 139, Tallinn, 15060
Prosecution
IP crime prosecution falls under the general competence of the Public Prosecutor’s Offices.
There is no specialised unit dealing with IP crime prosecution.
Public Prosecutor’s Offices
+372 6 944 274
Wismari 7, 15188 Tallinn
A list of Regional Prosecutor’s Offices and their contact details can be found here
Judiciary
There are no specialised courts on IP crime. This type of crime falls under the general court system.
The general courts are organised in a three-tier system:
- County Courts;
- Administrative Courts;
- Circuit Courts;
- The Supreme Court.
Estonian Courts
Contact details based on the region: access here
Judicial libraries
Judicial libraries
RIIGI TEATAJA (STATE GAZETTE)
Public and free database. No registration is required.
Kõik kohtumenetlused–Riigi Teataja
All judgments from:
- County Courts (1st instance)
- Administrative Courts (1st instance)
- Circuit Courts (2nd instance)
- Supreme Court (3rd instance)
Other available legislation:
- texts of Estonian legislation
RIIGIKOHUS (SUPREME COURT)
Public and free database. No registration is required.
Selected judgments from:
- Supreme Court (3rd instance)
Other available legislation:
- list of past and upcoming cases,
- information on references for a preliminary ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union from Estonian courts,
- reviews of the practice of the Supreme Court,
- summaries of judgments of the Court of Justice of the European Union,
- summaries of the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
Eurojust is an agency of the European Union