Renew a Croatian patent validated through the European Patent Office (EPO):
During the application process renewal fees must be paid to the EPO. The first renewal fee of a patent application is due on the second anniversary of the patent's filing date, and thereafter, renewal fees are due on an annual basis. Once a patent is granted by the EPO and validated in Croatia, the renewal fee is paid to the State Intellectual Property Office of the Republic of Croatia (SIPO). The rules that apply to a national Croatian patent also apply to an EP patent in Croatia. For more information on renewal fees related to the EPO, please visit another one of our articles at this link, here.
For example, if the filing date of a patent is 2017-06-15, and the grant date is 2023-04-25, you will have to settle the renewal fee with the EPO starting from 2019-06-30 onwards until 2022-06-30. From the year 2023 onwards, you will have to settle the renewal fee with the Croatian Patent Office.
Renew a national patent with the Croatian Patent Office:
In order to maintain a patent application in Croatia, a renewal fee must be paid to the State Intellectual Property Office of the Republic of Croatia (SIPO). The first renewal fee of a patent application is on the second anniversary of the filing date. Renewal fees in Croatia fall due exactly on the anniversary of the original filing date. The due date should be the month and date corresponding to the filing date.
For example, if the filing date of a patent is 2017-06-20, you will have to settle the first renewal fee on the second anniversary (year 3) of the patent’s filing date on 2019-06-20. The next annuity (year 4) will be due for renewal on 2020-06-20 and so on.
In Croatia, there are other types of intellectual property which require payment of renewal fees: designs and utility models. At PatentRenewal.com, we have all the necessary tools and procedures to ensure that both types can be renewed through us.
Intellectual Property Type #1 - Utility Models
A Croatian utility model is valid for 10 years from the filing date of the application and is in force for three years from the filing date of the application. Like patents, you can renew the utility registration annually up until the last year. The renewal fees fall due exactly on the anniversary of the original filing date. If the renewal fee is not paid by the due date, the utility model will enter a grace period of 6 months. This gives you time to still renew the utility model, however, the renewal fee is higher.
Intellectual Property Type #2 - Industrial Designs
A Croatian design right is valid for 25 years from the filing date. Initially, a Croatian design is protected for 5 years. In order to maintain protection beyond the initial 5-year period, it can be renewed every five years thereafter, up to a maximum of four renewals. Renewal fees are required with each registered design, even if these are designs of multiple applications. If the requested maintenance fees are not settled by the due date, an additional 6-month grace period will be applied in order for the settlement to take place. If a patent enters the 6-month grace period, an increase to the original renewal fees will be applied.
Starting from the 2nd anniversary of the filing date, patent renewal fees need to be paid annually to maintain a granted patent. For further clarification, please refer to the cost breakdown below.
National patent: The first renewal fee will be due on the second anniversary of the patent application’s filing date.
For example, if the filing date of a patent is 2017-06-15, you will only have to settle the renewal fee starting from 2019-06-15 onwards.
Croatian patent validated through the European Patent Office (EPO): The first renewal fee of a patent application is due on the second anniversary of the patent's filing date, and thereafter, renewal fees are due on an annual basis. Once a patent is granted by the EPO and validated in Croatia, the renewal fee is paid to the State Intellectual Property Office of the Republic of Croatia (SIPO).
For example, if the filing date of a patent is 2017-06-15, and the grant date is 2023-04-25, you will have to settle the renewal fee with the EPO starting from 2019-06-30 onwards until 2022-06-30. From 2023 onwards, you will have to settle the renewal fee with the Croatian Patent Office.
National patent: Prior to the grant, the Croatian patent application is in its filing stage. You will have to pay the renewal fee to the Croatian patent office irrespective of whether the patent has been granted or not. The first renewal fee of a patent application is due on the third anniversary of the filing date.
Croatian patent validated through the European Patent Office (EPO): Prior to the grant, the patent application is in its filing stage with the EPO. You can only begin paying the renewal fees to the EPO from the second anniversary of the patent's filing date, and thereafter, renewal fees are due on an annual basis. However, once the patent has been granted and validated in Croatia, the renewal fee is thereafter paid to the State Intellectual Property Office of the Republic of Croatia (SIPO).
The renewal fees can be settled anytime before the renewal fees are due. It is possible to pay the renewal fees in lump sum for the entire life of the patent as well.
National patent: Yes, it is possible to renew a Croatian patent after its deadline. If you fail to pay the renewal fee in due time, a grace period of 6 months is given whereby the renewal fees can still be settled. However, when entering the grace period you will incur an increase of 100% to the original renewal fees. If you wish to maintain the patent, the (new) total renewal fee will have to be settled.
For example, if a patent’s renewal due is 2021-05-30, and the due date is missed, the patent will enter the grace period from 2021-06-01. The new total will need to be settled within the 6-month grace period, and will be due by 2021-11-30. Failure to pay this fee within the grace period, will result in the patent being lapsed.
Croatian patent validated through the European Patent Office (EPO): The same rule that applies to a national Croatian patent for missing a renewal deadline also applies to an EP patent in Croatia.
National patent: It is not mandatory to make use of a local agent or representative when renewing a patent in Croatia. You can simply pay the fees by bank transfer or via a deposit account. This rule is applicable to both national patents and EP patents in Croatia.
In order to maintain a Croatian patent, renewal fees need to be settled annually with the Croatian Patent Office. By settling the renewal fees, the patent is guaranteed to last for a maximum of 20 years from the filing date. This rule is applicable to both national patents as well as to an EP patent in Croatia.
