Which is the competent authority for patent applications for inventions in Bulgaria

1 month

2-5 years

no

4-6 months

• Grant fee: It will be paid together with the granted announcement fee one month after receiving the granted notice, and the payment will be doubled if it is overdue.
• Annuity: The renewal fee payment period is the corresponding date of the application date in the year, and can be paid within the last year of the current validity period. Payment can still be made within 6 months from the overdue date, subject to a penalty.

no

• Grant fee: The applicant shall pay the granted fee within 3 months after receiving the granted notice.
• Annuity: pay year by year from the first year of the application date, and should be paid before the last day of the month of the application date at the latest, not exceeding one patent year, and the annual fee can be paid within a grace period of 6 months if it is overdue, and paid at the same time 200% late fee.

Bulgarian Patent and Trademark Office

English: Bulgarian Patent Office, abbreviation: BPO

Website: Патентното ведомство на Република България (bpo.bg)

Bulgarian Utility Model Patent Search: BPO Online - portal.bpo.bg

yes. For an invention with the same subject matter, the applicant may file a patent type conversion request within 2 months from the date of receiving the patent application decision, but no later than 10 years from the application date, and change the patent type from invention to utility model .

The BPO only conducts formality examination of utility model patent applications. The formality examination takes 3 months, and the content of the examination includes whether the applied for utility model patent application belongs to the object of protection, the issue of unity, etc. If the granted conditions are met, the patent is authorized.