Novelty grace period for patent applications for inventions in Bulgaria

A 12-month novelty grace period is available if:

• The applicant authorizes others to use
• manifest misuse by a third party

no

Reinstatement of priority on grounds of "due care" and "unintentional/due care" accepted.

no

Reinstatement of priority on grounds of "due care" and "unintentional/due care" accepted.

• via Paris Convention : 12 months from earliest priority date.
• via Nationalization of PCT : 31 months from earliest priority date.

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

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

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.

• 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