Who are we

The Patent Office of the Republic of Bulgaria is a national state body for legal protection of industrial property based in Sofia, second level spending unit at the Ministry of Economy.

The Patent Office of the Republic of Bulgaria is a modern state institution whose vocation is to work for the implementation of the modern system for protection of industrial property.

Working hours:
8:30 - 17:00

Work with clients:
Center for Administrative Services:
Monday - Friday
8:30 - 17:00

Cash desk:
Monday - Friday
8:30 - 17:00

Central Patent Library:
Monday - Friday
8:30 - 17:00

History
The Patent Office of the Republic of Bulgaria is the legal successor of the Institute for Rationalizations - INRA, established by a Decree of the Presidium of the National Assembly in 1948, as the successor of the Bureau of Industrial Property, established in 1921 with the adoption of the first Act on Patents for Inventions. After 1948, INRA underwent various structural and functional changes, and in 1993, with the adoption of the new Patent Act, its name was changed to the Patent Office of the Republic of Bulgaria.

Main functions of the Patent Office of the Republic of Bulgaria

• performs expertise and makes decisions on the protection of industrial property objects;
• grants patents for inventions and certificates for registration of utility models; certificates for industrial designs, trademarks, service marks, appellations of origin and other protective documents for the protection of industrial property;
• •resolves disputes;
• represents the country in certain international industrial property organizations and carries out international cooperation in this field, including for conducting research and expertise for industrial property objects;
• carries out the publications and issues a bulletin and carries out international exchange of patent documents, creates and maintains information systems for the objects of industrial property and provides information services for these objects;
• •issues ordinances and instructions within the competence of the Patent Office and proposes tariffs for the activities and services performed by the Office;
• •keeps the state registers for the protected objects of industrial property;
• •provides training and education in the field of industrial property;
• •informs the public in the field of industrial property and promotes the legal protection of industrial property and innovation.