- 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
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.
no
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
The BPO conducts formal and substantive examinations of invention patent applications. The BPO will complete the formality examination within 1 month from the filing date, and then the BPO will verify the Certified Priority Document and its related fees, and will conduct a preliminary substantive examination and unity examination of the patent application within 3 months after the end of the preliminary examination. A patent application that has paid the search fee and publication fee is published within 18 months from the filing date/priority date, and the opposition period is 3 months from the publication date. Search reports, written opinions on patentability and third-party opinions will be conveyed to the applicant no later than 6 months after the expiration of the 3-month opposition period. Can be authorized.
no
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.
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
The BPO conducts formality examination of design patent applications.
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 .