Latvia is the central country of the Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania). On the world map Latvia is to be found in north-eastern Europe, on the east coast of the Baltic Sea. The name “Latvia” originates from an ancient Baltic (Indo-European) tribe – the Latgalians (in Latvian: latgali), who formed the ethnic core of the Latvian people. The Republic of Latvia was founded in 1918. It has been continuously recognized as a state by other countries since 1920 despite occupations by the Soviet Union (1940-1941, 1945-1991) and Nazi Germany (1941-1945). On August 21, 1991, Latvia declared the restoration of its de facto independence, and joined NATO in the spring of 2004 and the European Union as of May 1, 2004. As from January 2014, Latvia will also have joined the Eurozone. In 2016 Latvia became a full member of the OECD.

The protection of intellectual property in the Republic of Latvia is based on laws, harmonized with the legislation of the EU and international conventions.