Intellectual property in Bulgaria

Intellectual Property

National Organisations: The organization for the protection of trademarks and patents is the Bulgarian Patent Office.
Since 1993, there is a law on copyrights and intellectual property. There is also a law on patents but it is not very reliable.
Bulgaria signed the Paris Convention concerning the protection of industrial property and the agreement which establishes the World Organization of Intellectual property (WIPO). Concerning patents, Bulgaria ratified the treaty of co-operation on patents.
Regional Organisations: The European Patent Office
International Membership: Member of the WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization)
Signatory to the Paris Convention For the Protection of Intellectual Property

Type of property and law	Validity	International Agreements Signed
Patent Patents Act 1991	maximum 16 years	Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
Trademark Trademark Law 1999	10 years. If the trademark has not been used within 5 years of the deposition then it reverts to the public domain.	Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks
Design Industrial Design Law 1999	10 years renewable 3 times every 5 years.
Copyright Copyright Law and supporting rights	For the author's lifetime and for 70 years after his death	Berne convention For the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works Convention for the Protection of Producers of Phonograms Against Unauthorized Duplication of Their Phonograms Rome ConventionFor the Protection of Performers, Producers of Phonograms and Broadcasting Organizations WIPO Copyright Treaty WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty
Industrial Models Industrial Design Law	10 years and may be renewed 3 times in 5 years.

Any Comment About This Content? Report It to Us.