Patent Application Encyclopedia

The novelty grace period is 6 months before the filing date/priority date.

via Paris Convention : 6 months from earliest priority date.

IPOPHIL conducts formality examination and substantive examination for invention patent applications. After completing the formality examination and prior art search, the applicant needs to enter the public procedure within 18 months from the filing date/priority date, and enter the substantive examination procedure if there is no objection. The applicant shall submit a request for substantive examination within 6 months from the date of publication of the application or within 6 months from the date of entering the national phase at the latest. If the requirements are met, the patent application will be authorized.

• Licensing Fee: None.
• Annuity: After the patent is granted, the annual fee shall be paid year by year starting from the fourth year of the application date. The annual fee can be postponed and paid within 6 months after the expiration date at the latest, but a 50% penalty must be paid at the same time.

Reinstatement of priority on grounds of "due care" accepted.

yes. A maximum of 50 designs may be included under the same Locarno category.

20 years

OSIM only conducts formality examination of utility model patent applications. OSIM issues a search report within 6 months from the date of filing, and attaches relevant documents related to the prior art related to the novelty. The applicant may amend the patent application within 2 months from the receipt of the search report. The search report can be published at the time of grant or after grant at the request of the applicant/third party.

no

10 years

• via Paris Convention : 6 months from earliest priority date.
• The way of the Hague Agreement: The Hague Agreement will automatically take effect in Bulgaria after 6 months from the registration of the Hague Agreement.
• EU appearance route: 6 months from the earliest priority date.

no

• Grant fee: The applicant shall pay the granted registrar's fee 3 months after receiving the granted decision notice.
• Annual Fee: None.

1 year

no

20 years. Pharmaceutical invention patents have supplementary protection certificates (Supplementary protection certificates, SPC), which can extend the protection period for 5 years.

no

yes

• Grant fee: The applicant shall pay the granted registration fee within 3 months after receiving the notification of granted decision.
• Annuity: Three annual fees shall be paid in the 3.5th year, 7.5 years and 11.5 years from the date of granted, and the payment may be postponed within 6 months after the overdue period, but 25% of the annual fee of the current year shall be paid at the same time as a penalty.