• Design fees

Fees associated with filing industrial design applications in Croatia as well as other design fees are available in the fee calculator.

• The term for filing design applications in Croatia

The deadline for filing industrial design applications in Croatia claiming conventional priority is six months from the priority date. This term may be restored in Croatia within one year after the due date.

• Filing documents in Croatia

Application for industrial design in Croatia must contain:
- the express request for the registration of the industrial design;
- the identification of the applicant (name and surname/corporate name, address);
- representation of the design (maximum six representations);
- an indication of the product in which a design is intended to be incorporated or to which a design is intended to be applied;
- information identifying the authorised representative and a valid Power of Attorney (it can be filed subsequently, within two months from receipt of the invitation from CSIPO).

• Multiple design applications

Multiple design applications are possible in Croatia.

• Validity term

The industrial design in Croatia is valid for 25 years in total, namely for a five-year period renewable for no more than four times.

• Examination of a design application in Croatia

The substantive examination of industrial designs in Croatia is not stipulated.  

• Power of Attorney requirements in Croatia

The official legalisation of the POA form is not required for design registration in Croatia. POA must be filed within 60 days upon receipt of the official invitation from the Croatian IP Office.

• Priority document

The certified copy of the priority document must be translated into Croatian and submitted within three months from filing the Croatian design application.

• Grace period

In respect of the novelty requirement for an industrial design registration in Croatia, there is an exception provided where the disclosure of design must not be taken into consideration if a design for which protection is claimed has been made available to the public:
- by the designer, his successor in title, or a third person as a result of information provided or action taken by the designer or his successor in title;
- during the 12-month period preceding the date of filing of the industrial design application or, if priority is claimed, the date of granted priority.

• Grant and patent maintenance

If the design application is in conformity with the formal and absolute grounds requirements, the applicant will be invited to pay the maintenance fee for the first five years.

• Representation by a trademark attorney

Foreigners must perform the industrial design prosecution in Croatia through an agent, a registered Croatian patent attorney.

• What can be registered

The appearance of the whole or a part of a product resulting from its features is suitable for obtaining an industrial design registration in Croatia, in particular, the lines, contours, colours, shape, texture and/or materials of the product itself and/or its ornamentation.

• Notes

1. Online Search databases: Croatian Designs, Community Designs (EUIPO), International Designs.
2. Design protection in Croatia may also be obtained via registration of a Community Design.

Brief summary is based on the information provided by Vukmir & Associates on 24.01.2024
Please contact us if the above information is not in conformity with Croatian IP Laws