This province, which was under United Nations’ administration (UNMIK), declared its independence on February 17, 2008. Kosovo is not a member of the U.N. and remains unrecognized by a substantial number of States worldwide. Kosovo has not yet joined WIPO or any other international IP treaty. Kosovo’s government operates independently from the Serbian authorities. The local IP Office was established and became operative on November 19, 2007, enabling filing of national patent and trademark applications in Kosovo on the basis of Kosovo’s Industrial Property Laws.