European Patent (EPO) Validation in Croatia

1. Terms of patent validation in Croatia

The period for filing the translation in 3 months after the date on which the mention of the grant, maintenance in amended form or limitation of the European patent is published in the European Patent Bulletin.

The translation of the European patent must comprise:

  • the title of the invention;
  • the description;
  • drawings, if any;
  • the patent claims.

The translation must be accompanied by:

  • data identifying the proprietor of the patent;
  • the number of the European patent application;
  • the publication number of the European patent;
  • the number and date of the European Patent Bulletin in which the mention of the grant of the patent was published.

2. Conditions for patent validation in Croatia

2.1 Translation –  The translation must be filed in Croatian.

  • For provisional protection: it is required a translation of the complete patent specification, in Croatian. The translation of claims of the published European application is to be notified to the alleged infringer.
  • After grant: A translation of the claims of the European patent into Croatian as well as the European patent specification in English or translated into English must be supplied under the conditions provided for in Art. 65(1) EPC. If the European patent has been maintained in amended form, a translation of the amended claims into English and Croatian must be filed under the conditions provided for in Art. 65(1) EPC. Due date is 3 months after the date on which the mention of the grant, maintenance form or limitation of the European patent is published in the European Patent Bulletin..

2.2 Payment of patent validation and national registration fees:

There is no special fee to be paid.

3. Effect of the European patent as a national Croatian patent

Under Article 64(1) EPC, a European patent automatically confers on its proprietor from the date on which the mention of the grant is published in the European Patent Bulletin, in each contracting state in respect of which it is granted, the same rights as would be conferred by a national patent granted in that state.

4. Patent annuities in Croatia

  • Due date: anniversary of date of filing.
  • Earliest possible date for payment: no specific legal provision: payment may be made for more than one patent year. However, if the fees are subsequently changed, the patent proprietor will be obliged to pay the difference between the amount paid in advance and the amount due for the year concerned.
  • Period of grace for payment of fees (with surcharge): 6 months from due date.
EPO annuities -Croatia – EUR
Year Cost Fee Total Surcharge for late payment:
3 43 50 93 43
4 48 50 98 48
5 56 50 106 56
6 67 50 117 67
7 83 50 133 83
8 99 50 149 99
9 123 50 173 123
10 160 50 210 160
11 227 50 277 227
12 240 50 290 240
13 267 50 317 267
14 280 50 330 280
15 307 50 357 307
16 387 50 437 387
17 467 50 517 467
18 614 50 664 614
19 774 50 824 774
20 920 50 970 920

In case that your patent was filed not as EPO (European patent) patent but as PCT (WIPO, international patent), in order to obtain the protection on the national level, you may need to open to your patent to the national phase in Croatia.