Bulgaria Trademark Registration

In Bulgaria, trademark protection is based on the “first to file” principle. This means that, as a rule, rights over a trademark are granted to the first person or company that files and registers the mark, not to the one who uses it first in the marketplace. Because of this, registration is essential if you want to secure exclusive rights and effectively enforce your brand.

You can obtain protection in Bulgaria in two main ways:

• Local registration before the Patent Office of the Republic of Bulgaria BPO, or
• Regional protection by registering a **European Union Trademark (EUTM), which grants protection in Bulgaria as part of the whole EU territory. See our EU trademark services.

Bulgaria is also a member state of the Madrid Protocol. This allows foreign owners with an existing international registration to extend protection to Bulgaria via the Madrid System. We offer services for trademark filing through the Madrid System.

Registering your trademark in Bulgaria:

• Confers exclusive rights to use the mark for the goods and services covered,
• Provides a public record of ownership, useful in disputes and enforcement, and
• Enables you to oppose later conflicting trademark applications.

If you register a combined mark (with both word and figurative elements), your exclusive right is limited to the exact configuration as filed and registered. If you wish to use and protect the word element separately from the logo (or vice versa), you should consider filing an additional trademark that covers only the specific element you want to use independently.

To register a trademark in Bulgaria, you will generally need:

• Scanned copy of a signed Power of Attorney. 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 time to register a trademark in Bulgaria is approximately 18 months.

This is an estimated timeframe for straightforward cases, based on current processing times. The duration may vary significantly depending on factors such as:

• Objections raised by the trademark office,
• Oppositions filed by third parties, and
• Administrative or procedural delays.

Once your trademark is successfully registered in Bulgaria:

• The registration is valid for 10 years from the application date.
• It can be renewed indefinitely for further periods of ten years each.

If you do not renew your trademark before its expiration date, there is still a grace period of six (6) months during which the renewal can be requested, subject to additional late renewal fees. If the trademark is not renewed even within this grace period, the registration will lapse and protection will be lost, requiring a new application if you wish to regain rights.

The registered status also strengthens your position to enforce your rights against third parties and to rely on your registration in opposition or cancellation proceedings.

Yes. In Bulgaria, you can oppose a third party’s trademark application if it conflicts with your prior rights.

For national applications filed directly in Bulgaria:

• Oppositions may be filed within three (3) months from the date of publication of the application in the Official Bulletin.

For international registrations designating Bulgaria via the Madrid System:

• Oppositions can be filed between the sixth and ninth month after the publication of the designation in the Official Bulletin of the BPO.

Opposition allows you to argue that the later mark is confusingly similar to your own, especially where goods/services are identical or similar. Chances of success will depend on the specific facts of each case, including the distinctiveness and use of your earlier mark and the degree of similarity between signs and goods/services.

Prior use of a trademark is not required for registration in Bulgaria. However, post-registration use is crucial to maintain your rights.

If a registered trademark is not used in Bulgaria for a continuous period of five (5) years, it becomes vulnerable to cancellation actions for non-use. This means that third parties may request that your trademark be removed from the register, in whole or in part, due to lack of genuine use.

To safeguard your registration:

• Use the mark in connection with the goods/services covered, and
• Keep evidence of such use, in case you need to defend against a non-use cancellation action.