Patent Application Encyclopedia

2-2.5 years

Accept the restoration of priority, and consult OSIM for specific standards.

• via Paris Convention : 6 months from earliest priority date.
• Hague Agreement route: 6 months from earliest priority date.
• EU appearance route: 6 months from the earliest priority date.

10 years

INPI conducts formal and substantive examinations of invention patent applications. There are three ways to submit an application to INPI: online application, mailing and submitting a written application to INPI in person. No matter which way the application is filed, the application date of the patent is the time when the patent applicant sends the complete patent application text to INPI. The patent application is published within 18 months from the priority date, and a fee can be paid to file an early publication request; from the date of publication, anyone can submit opinions within the 60-day objection period, if there is no objection, the latest from the application date Enter the stage of substantive examination within 18 months. The average number of examination opinions for each patent application is 3. Patents are granted if the requirements of novelty, practicality and inventiveness are met.

The novelty grace period of the year preceding the filing date/priority right is granted if:

• The disclosure was caused by a third party illegally obtaining patent information
• The disclosure resulted from a breach of confidentiality by a person who obtained the patent information directly or indirectly from the applicant
• The disclosure was made by a government agency or a person authorized by a government in the investigation of an invention
• Disclosure results from a public exercise of reasonableness by the patentee or designee, the original owner of both, or a person with the consent of one of the foregoing
• A one-year novelty grace period if the evidence is submitted prior to review if the first disclosure was made after December 30, 2018, by:
  • patentee or designee
  • Original right holder of the patentee or designee
  • A person with the consent of the original right holder of the patentee or designee

A novelty grace period of 6 months is available if:

• With the consent of the inventor, the invention is exhibited at a specific exhibition or used for the exhibition
• Use or disclose inventions after the above exhibitions

20 years

• Licensing Fee: None.
• Annuity: The patentee is required to renew the design registration within 6 months of the renewal due date. If the annual fee is overdue, it can be paid within a grace period of 6 months, and the penalty should be paid at the same time.

no

• Grant fee: The applicant should pay the granted fee, registration fee and first annual fee within 4 months after receiving the granted decision.
• Annuity: pay year by year from the 3rd year from the application date, the annual fee can be paid within a grace period of 6 months if the annual fee is overdue, and the penalty is 50% of the annual fee of the year.

• 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

no

3 years

The novelty grace period is 12 months before the filing date/priority date.

• via Paris Convention : 6 months from earliest priority date.
• Hague Agreement route: 6 months from earliest priority date.
• EU appearance route: 6 months from the earliest priority date.

If the inventor or his client, the national office, or the information obtained directly or indirectly from the inventor leads to third-party disclosure, a novelty grace period of 12 months before the filing date/priority date can be enjoyed.