• Patent fees

Fees associated with the Serbian PCT national phase entry as well as other patent fees are available in the fee calculator.

• Deadline for the PCT national phase entry in Serbia

The time limit for entering the Serbian national phase of a PCT application is 30 months from the date of priority. This term may be extended by 30 days if correspondent official fee is paid.

• Minimum of filing documents in  Serbia

To obtain the date of filing a patent application in Serbia should contain:
- a request to grant a patent in Serbia;
- the international application.

• Language of the Serbian patent application

The official language of the Serbian patent application is Serbian. If the international application is filed in any other foreign language, the Serbian translation must be submitted within two months from the date of receipt of the invitation issued by the IP Office.

• Power of Attorney requirements

The IP Office does not set the deadline for submitting a POA. Instead, if the applicant does not supply a simply signed original of the Power of Attorney at the time of filing, the examiner issues an invitation once the application has reached its turn for examination, setting a deadline of 60 days from its receipt. The deadline may be extended.

• Assignment Deed

If the applicant is not the inventor the statement on how the applicant acquired the right from the Inventor(s) to file the application may be provided within two months from filing, on the condition that the fees for late filing are paid. 

• Substantive examination request

The substantive examination of a Serbian patent application based on PCT must be requested within six months from publication of the search report in the Official Gazette.

• Grace period

An invention which was already part of the state of the art for a period of up to six months before the filing of the application shall also be deemed to be new, if its disclosure was due to or was a consequence of:
- evident abuse in relation to the applicant or his legal predecessor;
- the invention being displayed by the applicant or his legal predecessor at an official, or officially recognised exhibition, falling within the terms of the Convention on International Exhibitions.

• Grant and patent maintenance

Official fee for granting a patent in Serbia should be paid within 15 days from receipt of the invitation. The patent validity term is 20 years counting from the international filing date. Annual maintenance fees are paid for pending applications and granted patents starting from the third year. The grace period for payment of annuities is 6 months provided that the surcharge fee is paid.

• Representation by a patent attorney

Foreigners must perform the Serbian PCT national stage entry through an agent, a registered in Serbia patent attorney.

• Notes

1. Online Search databases: Serbian Patents, European Patents (EPO).
2. The patent protection in the Serbia may also be obtained via entering the European regional stage and its further validation in Serbia.

Brief summary is based on the information provided by CPZ – CENTRE FOR PATENTS Ltd. on 12.03.2024
Please contact us if the above information is not in conformity with Serbian IP Laws.