Utility model registration abroad

At present, a limited number of countries or regions provide protection of inventions by utility model registration abroad. However, the number of countries is still large enough.

In the European Union (EU) the countries that allow utility models are as follows: Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia and Spain.

Worldwide speaking, the countries that have utility models registrations as an option, are: Angola, Argentina, ARIPO, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belize, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, China (including Hong Kong and Macau), Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Georgia, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Mexico, OAPI, Peru, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, Uruguay and Uzbekistan.

It must be highlighted that for the purposes of filing applications for utility model registrations abroad, the Bulgarian applicants, particularly those having permanent address or principle place of business in the Republic of Bulgaria, are obliged to file a first application for invention with the Bulgarian Patent Office (BPO) due to national security requirements. This first application may be either a Bulgarian Patent Application or application for Utility model registration in Bulgaria. Subsequently, all applications for utility models abroad can be filed with the respective IP authorities of the countries of interest, and claim priority from the firstly filed applications as above. The priority claim must be made at latest 12 months from the first filing applications. In the majority of cases, a representation by local Patent Attorney is also required.

With our globally acquired relationship with well-recognized Patent Agencies in all European jurisdictions and around the globe, we are able to provide our clients, being it Bulgarian or foreign ones, with a qualified assistance in protecting and maintaining their inventions abroad, within a single entry point of contact and obtaining protection in all countries of interest where utility model protection is available.