Trademark Registration in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina is a “first-to-file” jurisdiction, which means that rights over a trademark are granted through registration, not through use. Only in some exceptional situations – for example, very well-known marks – can an unregistered trademark receive any protection.

To secure protection, a trademark application must be filed with the **Intellectual Property Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina – IPR. Registration grants you exclusive rights to use the mark for the goods and services covered, and it gives you a solid basis to act against infringement or against later conflicting applications.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is also a member state of the Madrid Protocol, so it is possible to extend an existing international registration to this country via the Madrid System. We offer services for trademark filing through the Madrid System.

If you file a combined mark (word + logo), your exclusive right is limited to the mark exactly as registered. If you plan to use the word element and the logo separately, it is advisable to file additional applications for each element you wish to protect on its own.

To register a trademark in Bosnia and Herzegovina, you will generally need:

• Original Power of Attorney, signed. No notarization or legalization required.
• The name or logo you want to register
• The applicant’s details

Your iGERENT consultant will confirm the exact requirements for your case and guide you through each step.

The average timeframe to complete a straightforward trademark registration in Bosnia and Herzegovina is around 18 months.

This is an estimate based on current processing times. If the application encounters objections from the office or oppositions from third parties, the process may take longer.

Once your trademark is registered in Bosnia and Herzegovina:

• It has a validity of 10 years from the application date.
• It can be renewed indefinitely for additional 10-year periods.
• If it is not renewed by the expiry date, there is a grace period of six (6) months during which renewal is still possible upon payment of a late renewal fee.

After registration, the mark must not remain unused for too long: if it is not used for more than five years after registration, it may become vulnerable to cancellation actions for non-use, unless the lack of use can be justified by valid reasons.

Yes. If a third party files a trademark that includes a primary or distinctive part of your mark for similar goods or services, you can oppose the application based on confusing similarity.

• For local applications filed directly in Bosnia and Herzegovina, oppositions must be filed within three (3) months from the date of publication in the trademarks gazette.
• For international registrations designating Bosnia and Herzegovina via the Madrid Protocol, the opposition period is three (3) months starting on the first day of the month following publication in the WIPO Gazette.

The success of an opposition will depend on the specific facts, the evidence of your prior rights, and the degree of similarity between the trademarks and the goods or services.

Use is not required to obtain registration, but it is highly relevant to maintain your rights.

If a registered trademark in Bosnia and Herzegovina is not used for a continuous period of five (5) years after registration, third parties may request cancellation for non-use. In some situations, lack of use can be justified (for example, serious obstacles independent of the owner’s will), but it will depend on the specific circumstances and available evidence.