Fighting similar trademarks in Bulgaria

01-02-2012

Iliana Muhibian

As a step towards harmonising Bulgarian intellectual property legislation with EU legislation, the Bulgarian Trademark Law was substantially amended.

One of the biggest changes was the introduction of proper trademark opposition proceedings in Bulgaria, as it was one of a handful of European countries that did not provide an adequate means of challenging new trademark applications.

Background

Before the Bulgarian Trademark Law (BTL) was changed to allow proper trademark opposition proceedings, it did off er a watered-down version. Th e Bulgarian Patent Office (BPO) previously carried out ex officio examinations on absolute and relative grounds.


Bulgaria, similar trademarks, opposition procedure, BTL

WIPR