LEGAL BASIS

• Patent Law of the Republic of Croatia, effective as of January 1, 2004, last amendment effective as of June 29, 2013.
• Patent Rules, effective as of November 14, 2007, last amendment effective as of July 4, 2013.

MEMBERSHIP IN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS

• Paris Convention, since October 8, 1991.
• Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), since July 1, 1998.
• European Patent Convention (EPC), since January 1, 2008 (designation of Croatia is possible as of April 1, 2004).

FILING REQUIREMENTS

• Power of Attorney, no legalization;
• Specification and abstract (German type);
• Drawings, if any;
• Certified copy of the priority application(s), if any.

REMARKS

National Phase of PCT: under Chapter I: 31 months; under Chapter II: 31 months.
Validity: patent issued after formal examination and substantive examination (to be requested) - valid for 20 years. Consensual Patent (as of January 1, 2000): issued after a formal examination - valid for 10 years.
Annuities: are due for the third and every subsequent year counting from the filing date of the application.
Opposition: after the publication of a patent application, anyone may, within six months, file with the Office an objection to the grant of a consensual patent or a request for the substantive examination; after grant, at any time.

LEGAL BASIS

• Trademark Law of the Republic of Croatia , effective as of January 1, 2004, last amendment effective as of May 7, 2011.
• Trademark Rules, effective since November 14, 2007, last amendment effective as of October 10, 2013.

MEMBERSHIP IN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS

• Paris Convention, since October 8, 1991.
• Madrid Agreement, since October 8, 1991.
• Madrid Protocol, since January 23, 2004.

FILING REQUIREMENTS

• Power of Attorney, not legalized;
• 2 prints (except for word marks), size: min. 1.5 x 1.5 cm, max. 8 x 8 cm;
• List of goods and services, grouped according to the International Classification;
• Priority certificate, if any.

REMARKS

Kinds of protection: verbal, pictorial, three-dimensional and other designations or their combinations. Service marks are registrable.
Classification: International.
Obligation to use the registered mark: compulsory. Non-use during any five-year period after the registration date may lead to cancellation.
Duration - renewals: 10-year period after the filing date or last renewal date.
Opposition: can be filed at the Office within three months after the publication of the trademark application, and a cancellation action can be initiated any time after the registration of the mark.

LEGAL BASIS

• Industrial Design Law of the Republic of Croatia effective as January 1, 2004, last amendment effective as of May 7, 2011.
• Industrial Design Rules, effective as of June 1, 2004, last amendment effective as of October 10, 2013.

MEMBERSHIP IN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS

• Paris Convention, since October 8, 1991.
• Hague Agreement, Geneva Act, since February 12, 2004.

FILING REQUIREMENTS

• Power of Attorney, not legalized;
• Specification of the model without claim, but the novelty has to be pointed out in the specification;
• A photograph or graphical representation of the design, size: from 3 x 3 cm to 16 x 24 cm;
• Certified copy of the priority application, if any.

REMARKS

Duration – renewals: after a formal examination: 5 years from the filing date with four renewal periods of 5 years up to the total term of 25 years.
Opposition: possible after registration, any time.

LEGAL BASIS

• Regulations on the organization and administration of the top-level national internet domain, effective from July 2010.

FILING

• ccTLD: .hr
• Applicant: individuals and legal entities.
• Local presence: required.

REMARKS

Duration – renewals: one year, renewable.
Uniform dispute resolution procedure: none.