On January 1 2008 the European Patent Convention entered into force in Croatia. Consequently, European patent applications filed on or after January 1 2008, when the Convention entered into force on the territory, will include the designation of Croatia as a contacting state to the EPC. This is the latest of many changes to the domestic patent system aimed at increasing the compatibility of intellectual property laws and treatment with TRIPs and EU legislation.
Regarding PCT applications, any application filed on or after the date January 1 2008 designating the European Patent Office will automatically include Croatia.
The major change to expect in this series of reforms to the Croatian patent system will occur on May 1 2008 when the London Agreement will enter into force.
On that date, patent descriptions may be submitted in English to the Croatian State Intellectual Property Office. Patent claims, however, must still be translated into the Croatian language, as Croatia does not share an official language with the EPO. This change is expected to dramatically lower the costs of obtaining patent protection in Croatia.
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| Tamiko Franklin |
Matijevich Law offices
Kurelceva 4
HR – 10000 Zagreb
Croatia
Tel: +385 1 482 8855
Fax: +385 1 482 8866
tfra@amatlaw.com
www.amatlaw.com
