Industrial Design Application Fees
Fees associated with filing industrial design applications in Bulgaria, as well as other design fees, are available in the fee calculator.
Term for a filing Bulgarian industrial design application
The term for filing an industrial design application in Bulgaria claiming conventional priority is six months from the priority date. The extension of this deadline is not stipulated.
Multiple industrial design applications
Multiple industrial design applications are possible in Bulgaria provided all designs fall within the same class of Locarno classification.
Validity term for industrial design application
The validity term of an industrial design in Bulgaria is ten years from the filing date. This term may be renewed three times for five years each.
Analysis of an industrial design application in Bulgaria
The industrial design application in Bulgaria undergoes formal examination only.
Power of Attorney requirements for design application
Official legalization is not required. The signed and stamped (if applicable) POA form shall be submitted within three months from filing the industrial design application.
Priority document for design application
A priority claim is made on filing or within 2 months after the filing date. The priority document must be submitted within three months of filing an industrial design application in Bulgaria. The translation into Bulgarian is not usually requested by BPO.
Novelty grace period of application
The 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.
Grant, validity term, and maintenance fees for industrial design application
The validity term of an industrial design in Bulgaria is 10 years from the filing date, renewable three times for 5 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.
Representation by a Bulgarian patent attorney
Foreign applicants must perform the industrial design prosecution in Bulgaria through an agent, registered Bulgarian trademark, and design attorney.
What can be registered as a Bulgarian industrial design
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, colors, or combination of such.
Notes
1. Online Search databases: Community Designs (EUIPO), International Designs.
2. The deferment of the publication of the industrial design application is stipulated in Bulgaria within 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 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.
If you have any queries related to the Industrial Design Filing in Bulgaria, please contact IIPLA team. We will be more than happy to resolve your queries free of cost.