The BPO conducts formality examination of design patent applications.
A 12-month novelty grace period is available if:
- The designer, his legal successor, or a third party arising from the information or activities of the designer or his legal successor
- Third party that harms the interests of the designer
yes. Designs in the same category, or belonging to the same set or combination of articles, may contain several designs in one design (this condition does not apply when the product containing or attached to the design is an ornament).
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
20 years
4-6 months
no
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 .
- via Paris Convention : 12 months from earliest priority date.
- via Nationalization of PCT : 31 months from earliest priority date.
- Validation of European Patent in EPO member states: 3 months from the date of European patent grant
no
no