Bulgaria Opens Industrial Ownership Representation to EU

All citizens of EU countries, of Switzerland and of countries included in the Agreement for the European Economic Area have now the right to be represented before Bulgaria's Patent Office for industrial ownership. File photo

The Bulgarian cabinet approved Thursday changes in the Decree for Industrial Ownership Representatives, allowing foreigners to become such.

The news was reported by the Council of Ministers' press office.

According to the changes, all citizens of EU countries, of Switzerland and of countries included in the Agreement for the European Economic Area (EEA) have now the right to be represented before Bulgaria's Patent Office for industrial ownership. The change stems for the Directive for Services on Internal Markets, which bans the discrimination of providers of services on grounds of nationality and/or residency.

Until now only Bulgarian citizens permanently residing in the country could become representatives of industrial ownership.

The representatives assist and protect rights and legal interests of individuals and companies in the area of industrial ownership, thus their registration with the Patent Office is mandatory.