Fees associated with filing patent applications in Slovenia, as well as other patent fees, are available in the fee calculator.
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The term for filing patent applications in Slovenia
The term for filing a patent application in Slovenia claiming priority is 12 months from the date of priority. Restoration of the priority right is possible under the due care criterion by paying the additional fees for restoration.
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Minimum of filing documents in Slovenia
Minimum of filing documents required to obtain a filing date in Slovenia is complete patent specification with claims and drawings (if any) and the details of the applicant and the inventor.
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Language of the Slovenia patent application
The language of registration in the Slovenian Patent Office is Slovene. The applicant can file an application in English, German or French and submit the translation thereof into the Slovene language within three months following receipt of the invitation.
Priority document (certified copy of the previous application) can be submitted within a 3-month term from the receipt of the corresponding invitation. The translation of the priority document into Slovene is not usually required.
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Power of Attorney requirements
The simply signed Power of Attorney should be submitted within three months upon the official request. Notarization or legalization is not required.
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Substantive examination request
Slovenian patent applications undergo examination solely for compliance with formal requirements. Substantive examination is not obligatory.
The novelty of the invention is not disproved if the disclosure of the information about the invention was made within 6 months prior to filing an application or the priority date. This disclosure must be directly or indirectly attributed to either:
a) an evident abuse in relation to the applicant or their legal predecessor or
b) the fact that the applicant or their legal predecessor has displayed the invention at an official or officially recognised international exhibition.
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Grant and maintenance fees
The grant fee is not stipulated for patents in Slovenia. Patents are registered on the date of publication, which occurs within 18 months from the date of filing or the priority date. Maintenance fees commence from the fourth year of patent validity and are payable annually on the anniversary of the filing date. The validity term of patents in Slovenia is 20 years from the filing date.
Before the end of the ninth year of the patent's validity, written evidence must be submitted to the Office. Failure to submit the required documentation in a timely manner leads to the irrevocable lapse of the patent's validity after the tenth year. Late payment is possible within a 6-month grace period by paying a surcharge.
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Representation by a patent attorney
For foreigners, it is necessary to perform the patent prosecution in Slovenia through an agent, the registered Slovenian patent attorney.
1. Online Search databases: Slovenian Patents, European Patents (EPO).
2. Patent protection in Slovenia may also be obtained via European Patent and its further validation in Slovenia. Moreover, direct entry into the PCT national phase in Slovenia is not possible, only via the EPO route.
3. Protection of the inventions in Slovenia is also possible as a Short-term patent (basically corresponds to Utility Model protection title). The short-term patent in Slovenia may not be granted for processes, plant varieties and animal breeds. The validity term of a short-term patent in Slovenia is ten years from the date of filing.
The above information was verified on 30.01.2024
Please contact us if the above information is not in conformity with Slovenian IP Laws