Fees associated with filing industrial design applications in Bulgaria, as well as other design fees, are available in the fee calculator.
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Term for filing design application in Bulgaria
The term for filing industrial design application in Bulgaria claiming conventional priority is six months from the priority date. The extension of this deadline is not stipulated.
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Multiple design applications
Multiple industrial design applications are possible in Bulgaria provided all designs fall within the same class of Locarno classification.
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Minimum of filing documents in Bulgaria
To obtain a filing date a Bulgarian design application should contain:
- the request for registration;
- the name and the address of the applicant;
- one or several graphic or photographic representations that clearly and comprehensively disclose the design, for which protection is sought.
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Examination of a design application in Bulgaria
The industrial design application in Bulgaria undergoes formal examination only.
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Power of Attorney requirements
The official legalisation is not required. The signed and stamped (if applicable) POA form shall be submitted within two months from filing industrial design application.
Priority claim is made on filing or within 2 months after the filing date. The priority document must be submitted within three months from filing industrial design application in Bulgaria. The translation into Bulgarian is not usually requested by BPO.
Novelty grace period is 12 months if the disclosure is made by the author of the design directly or indirectly, or by a third party in bad faith.
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Grant, validity term and maintenance fees
The validity term of an industrial design in Bulgaria is 10 years from the filing date, renewable three times for a period of five years upon payment of the renewal fees. Renewal fees are due on the anniversary of the filing date and may be paid during the last year of the validity term. Late payment is possible within 6 months after the due date alongside a corresponding surcharge.
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Representation by a patent attorney
Foreign applicants must perform the industrial design prosecution in Bulgaria through an agent, registered Bulgarian design attorney.
Industrial design in Bulgaria may be registered as the whole or partial appearance of the product resulting from the specific features of the shape, lines, contours, ornamentation, colours, or combination of such.
1. Online Search Databases: Bulgarian Designs, Community Designs (EUIPO), International Designs.
2. The deferment of the publication of the industrial design application is stipulated in Bulgaria within the period of 30 months from the date of filing of the application or, if priority is claimed, from the priority date.
3. The official fee for publication of industrial design registration data on in Bulgaria should be paid within 27 months from the date of filing, or if priority is claimed, from the priority date.
4. Design protection in Bulgaria may also be obtained via registration of a Community Design.
Brief summary is based on the information provided by Krasimira Kadieva Intellectual Property Law Office on 07.03.2023
Please contact us if the above information is not in conformity with Bulgarian IP Laws