Patent Application Encyclopedia

via Paris Convention : 6 months from earliest priority date.

DIP conducts substantive examination of design patent applications, and only examines whether the conditions of novelty and industrial applicability are met.

4 months

yes

The novelty grace period is 12 months before the filing date/priority date.

• Grant fee: The applicant shall pay the granted fee within 2 months after receiving the granted payment notice.
• Annuity: From the 3rd year from the filing date, the annual fee shall be paid year by year. For the application of PCT entering the national phase of Turkey, the maintenance fee before granted shall be paid. If the annual fee is overdue, it can be paid within a grace period of 6 months, and a 125% late fee will be paid at the same time.

yes

yes

Formal examination: IPOS will conduct formality examination first after receiving the patent application and the application fee of S$170 . After passing the preliminary examination, the application date will be determined. Those who do not meet the formality examination need to overcome the defects within 2 months after receiving the correction notice from IPOS. Formal examination includes examination of whether there are any missing priority information, description and drawings of the description, etc.

Publication: A patent application is published 18 months from the filing date/priority date, and the applicant may request early publication.

Search and substantive examination: The applicant can choose three ways to submit a search request and substantive examination, and submit a substantive examination request within 36 months from the filing date at the latest, and pay the corresponding fee. IPOS will examine patent applications for novelty, inventive step and industrial applicability. Applicants with search results from other countries can take advantage of the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) and ASEAN Patent Examination Cooperation (ASPEC) procedures to obtain patent rights in Singapore more quickly and efficiently. If there are no deficiencies to overcome, the patent application will be granted. If the applicant cannot resolve the issue within 18 months from the date of the first written opinion, the patent application will be rejected.

Bulgarian Patent and Trademark Office

English: Bulgarian Patent Office, abbreviation: BPO

Website: Патентното ведомство на Република България (bpo.bg)

Bulgarian Utility Model Patent Search: BPO Online - portal.bpo.bg

no

20 years

1 year

yes

• via Paris Convention : 6 months from earliest priority date.
• Hague Agreement route: 6 months from earliest priority date.

The novelty grace period is 6 months before the filing date/priority date.

It is protected for 10 years from the date of application, and can be renewed for 3 times, each time for 5 years, with a maximum protection of 25 years.