Features of Bulgarian Utility Model Patent Application Process

Submitted by 页之码 on

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.

专利申请流程

  • A novelty grace period of 6 months is available if:

    • The applicant or the original right holder obviously abused the
    • Exhibited by the applicant or the original right holder at an official or officially recognized exhibition
    • 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.
  • Reinstatement of priority on grounds of "due care" and "unintentional/due care" accepted.

  • 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 initial protection period is 4 years, which can be extended for two consecutive three years, and the maximum protection period is 10 years.

    • 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
  • Filing Language: Bulgarian

    via Paris Convention via Nationalization of PCT

    Necessary documents:

    1. Abstract
    2. Abstract Drawing
    3. Claim
    4. Specification
    5. Drawing

    Necessary documents:

    1. Abstract
    2. Abstract Drawing
    3. Claim
    4. Specification
    5. Drawing

    Attachments (if any)

    1. Sequence Listing (PDF format and TXT format)
    2. Certificate of Deposit of Microorganisms and its Bulgarian translation
    3. Certificate of Microbial Survival and its Bulgarian translation
    4. Power of Attorney
    5. Priority certificate and its Bulgarian translation
    6. Declaration of Ownership/Certification of Employment/Assignment of priority
    7. Assignment for Patent Right Transfer
    8. Application fee payment proof document
    9. Notification issued by CNIPA notify the applicant the application has passed through the security review

    Attachments (if any)

    1. WIPO Publication
    2. ISR/IPRP
    3. Entering the national phase of Bulgaria State 19/28/34/41 amended
    4. Sequence Listing (PDF format and TXT format)
    5. Certificate of Deposit of Microorganisms and its Bulgarian translation
    6. Certificate of Microbial Survival and its Bulgarian translation
    7. Declaration of Ownership/Certification of Employment/Assignment of priority
    8. Power of Attorney
    9. Assignment for Patent Right Transfer
    10. Application fee payment proof document
  • 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.

    • 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.
  • It is protected for 10 years from the date of application, and can be renewed for 3 times, each time for 5 years, with a maximum protection of 25 years.