Sokollu Mehmed Pasha

Answers to the most FAQs about intellectual property in BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA

Patents

• Extension of EP is possible
• It is possible to expedite examination based on patent granted in another jurisdiction (US or EP)
• Software is not registrable as a patent
• Patent annuity can be paid within 1 year ahead of due date
• Grace period for patent annuity payment is 6 months
• Extract from commercial register is required to record address and/or name change
• License agreement, assignment deed or simply executed assignment form is required to record license or assignment
• If not recorded, then license or assignment does not have legitimacy against third parties

Trademarks

• Multi class trade/service mark application is possible
• Three dimensional mark is registrable
• Single color per se is registrable as trade/service mark under certain conditions
• Approximate time from application till registration is 3-4 years
• It is possible to expedite examination for trademark upon payment of additional fees
• The IP Office is examining absolute and relative grounds and opposition is not provided
• Cancellation of trademark registration is possible
• Tolerable non use period is 5 years from date of registration or from last serious use
• Trade/service mark registration can be renewed within 12 months ahead of renewal due date
• Grace period for trade/ service mark renewal is 6 months
• Extract from commercial register is needed to record trademark owners address and/or name change
• License agreement, assignment deed or simply executed assignment form is required to record license or assignment
• If not recorded license and assignment does not have legal effects against third parties
• Customs registration of trademark is possible providing monitoring of possible counterfeits

Country general information

• 51.129 sq km
• Country boundaries: Serbia, Croatia, and Montenegro
• Population: 4.552.000
• GDP per capita: $ 5.600
• GDP economy structure (approximate): Agriculture 14%, Industry 30%, and Services 56%