RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE WT/ACC/HRV/15
5August 1996
ORGANIZATION(96-3099)
Original: English
ACCESSION OFCROATIA
Communication from Croatia
Thefollowing information ontheTrade-Related Intellectual Property Regime hasbeenreceived
from theMinistry ofEconomic Affairs oftheRepublic ofCroatia.
_______________
TRADE-RELATED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY REGIME
1. GENERAL:
(a) intellectual property policy;
Thekeyreferences notonlyofthefuture butalsooftheactual policy oftheRepublic ofCroatia
inthefieldofintellectual property arisefrom thebasic global orientation oftheRepublic ofCroatia
toaccept andtoapply, firstofall,theEuropean system ofvalues beginning withthecommon cultural
toinclusively economic complexes.
Insuchrelations andframeworks itwould benatural thatthepolicy ofintellectual property
alsoresults insuchasystem ofintellectual property intheRepublic ofCroatia which would initsentirety
correspond toallreferences andachievements ofintellectual property attained, firstofall,inthe
European frameworks.
Ithastobementioned thatsincethe19thcentury Croatia hashadcertain basiclawsincommon
withthestates oftheMiddle Europe forexample, from1852-1945. TheCivil LawofAustria, from
1875-1945,theCommercialLawpassedbythecommonParliamentofHungaryandCroatia,1884-1929,
TheCopyright Lawpassed alsobythecommon Parliament ofHungary andCroatia etc.
Ifundoubted efforts aretaken intoconsideration aswellasconcrete actions already initiated
bytheRepublic ofCroatia, thefinalaimofwhich isthefullmembership intheEuropean Union, not
onlythecontent butalsointensity ofprocess withbasicdirectives offuture intellectual property system
oftheRepublic ofCroatia anditsharmonization withtheactual stateoftheintellectual property system
intheworld andabove allintheframework oftheEuropean Union becomes recognizable.
Asapartofthose processes which havebeenalready going onintheRepublic ofCroatia,
inthefieldofintellectual property itisextremely intensive participation oftheRepublic ofCroatia
inallactivitieswhichhavebeenrealizedintheframeworkoftheWorldIntellectualPropertyOrganization
inGeneva, including programs theaimofwhich aretheharmonization oflegislation inthefieldof
intellectual property ininternational proportions. Following tothat,forinstance, theresults ofthis
harmonization inthefieldofpatents (PLT) andtrademarks (TLT) willbeincorporated inthenewlaws
oftheRepublic ofCroatia.WT/ACC/HRV/15
Page2
Inaddition tothat,theexisting membership oftheRepublic ofCroatia intheMadrid Union
andtheforthcoming accession totheMadrid Protocol puttheRepublic ofCroatia inthenumerous,
growing group ofcountries which participate inthesystem oftheinternational registration ofmarks.
Theforthcoming accession oftheRepublic ofCroatia totheHague Agreement willcreate the
identical situation alsointhefiledofindustrial designs.
Theverysoonaccession tothePatent Cooperation Treaty andtheprepared signing ofthe
Agreement withtheEuropean Patent Organization concerning theacquisition ofpatents alsointhe
Republic ofCroatia along withthemember states oftheEuropean Patent Organization, puttheRepublic
ofCroatia inaverynumerous group ofcountries forinternational acquisition ofpatents.
Thesimilar sequence ofevents isforthcoming alsointhefieldofcopyright andneighbouring
rights whatencircles themodern system ofintellectual property.
Conformablyto,andintheframeworkof,thedesignatedprocessanditsfinalaimintheRepublic
ofCroatia activities onnewlaws aregoing onorareunder preparation (Patent Law, Lawon
Trade/Service Marks, LawonIndustrial Designs, LawonLayout ofIntegrated Circuits, Lawon
Copyright andNeighbouring Rights...). These lawswillresult insuchaconceptional andsubstantial
solutions which willensure reflection anddirect changes ofboththespirit andtherelevant provisions
arising fromTRIPS, achievements intheinternational framework (WIPO) aswellasintheEuropean
relations.
Thedesignatedpolicyofintellectualpropertywillleadnotonlytoamodernsystemofintellectual
property intheRepublic ofCroatia butitwillfindappropriate reflection asinthefiledoflegislation
sointheframework ofjustice andadministration system aswellasininformation resources.
(b) responsible agencies forpolicy formulation andimplementation;
According tothepresent state, theStatePatent Office istheinstitution competent intheRepublic
ofCroatia forthefieldofindustrial property, while theMinistry ofCulture iscompetent forthefield
ofcopyright andneighbouring rights.
Atthismoment, thepassing ofthenewLawonOrganization andScope ofMinistries andState
Administrative Organizations isunder thelegislation procedure which willamong other matters result
inintegration ofindustrial property rights withcopyright andneighbouring rights under onegovernment
body, theexisting State Patent Office.
(c) membership ofinternational intellectual property conventions andofregional orbilateral
agreements;
TheRepublic ofCroatia isaparty tothefollowing international conventions:
1. Convention Establishing theWorld Intellectual Property Organization;
2. Paris Convention fortheProtection ofIndustrial Property;
3. Madrid Agreement Concerning theInternational Registration ofMarks;
4. NiceAgreement Concerning theInternational Classification ofGoods andServices forthe
Purposes oftheRegistration ofMarks;
5. Locarno Agreement Establishing anInternational Classification forIndustrial Designs;
6. Berne Convention fortheProtection ofLiterary andArtistic Works, Paris Act1971;
7. Brussels Convention Relating totheDistribution ofProgramme -Carrying Signals Transmitted
bySatellite;WT/ACC/HRV/15
Page3
8. Universal Copyright Convention, 1952 and1971.
(d) application ofnational andm.f.n. treatment toforeign nationals;
According toourlegislation foreign nationals enjoy national treatment, while m.f.n. treatment
isnotapplied forthetimebeing.
(e) feesandtaxes;
Thefeesinthefield ofindustrial property shall beregulated bytheLaw Governing
Administrative FeesfortheEstablishment ofRights ofIndustrial Property andDecision onProcedure
Special Charges andInformation Service Charges oftheStatePatent Office andshallbeequally applied
tonationals andforeign nationals.
Thefeesconcerning theexploitation ofcopyright shallbeestablished bythecontract.
Inthefieldofintellectual property general provisions ontaxes shallbeapplied.
2. SUBSTANTIVE STANDARDS OFPROTECTION, INCLUDING PROCEDURES FOR
THEACQUISITIONANDMAINTENANCEOFINTELLECTUALPROPERTYRIGHTS:
(a) copyright andrelated rights, including rights ofperformers, producers ofphonograms
andbroadcasting organizations;
Basic provisions oncopyright andneighbouring rights intheRepublic ofCroatia arecontained
intheConstitution of1990intheChapter onbasicfreedom andrights ofmenandcitizens. Inaccordance
withthose provisions theLawonadoption ofYugoslavian federal lawsinthefieldofeducation and
culture of26June991isenforced, which resulted intheadoption ofCopyright Lawof1978(published
inCopyright, 1980, p.157) withchanges andamendments of1986and1990(published inCopyright,
1991) andisthenchanged andamended byCroatian Lawof1993.
ThefirstpartoftheLawrelates totherights oftheauthors. Such rights shallbeenjoyed by
thenationals oftheRepublic ofCroatia andbytheforeign nationals having usual residence atits
territory, aswellasbyforeign nationals whose works arepublished onthatterritory forthefirsttime
andforeign nationals onthebasis ofinternational treaties oronthebasis ofdefacto reciprocity.
Protected works shallbeallworks pertaining totheliterary, scientific orartistic fieldwithout
regard tothekind, method orformofexpression, unless otherwise provided inthisLaw. Asexamples
ofsuch works thelawquotes written andoralworks, dramatic anddramatico-musical works,
choreographic works andentertainments indumb show, musical works, cinematographic works and
works created byaprocess analogous tocinematographic creation, works ofpainting, sculpture,
architecture andgraphic art,works ofapplied artandindustrial designing, photographic works, plans,
sketchesandthree-dimensionalworksrelativetoscientificandartisticfieldaswellascomputerprograms.
Apart fromthat,thequoted protected works shallbetranslations, adaptations, arrangements, collection
ofworks andthetitleofthework.
Theoriginal owners ofcopyright shallbeauthors andco-authors from theverycreation of
thework without anyformalities. Apart fromthatother persons mayalsobecome owners ofcopyright
byvirtue oflaw,contract orwill.
Copyright shallcover economic rights andmoral rights.WT/ACC/HRV/15
Page4
Economic rights are,asarule, exclusive rights ofexploitation ofwork, suchasrights of
reproduction, distribution, public performance, broadcasting, translation andother arrangements of
work, andother exploitation ofthework. Limitations ofsuchrights shallbequoted intheLaw. In
addition tothese exclusive rights theLawquotes droitdesuiteaswellastherighttoexhibit thework.
Among moral rights theLawquotes therightoftheowner tobeidentified asauthor, right
toobject toderogatory treatment ofwork, righttohonour andrespect oftheauthor andiuspoenitendi.
Economic rights shallbetransferable intervivosandmortis causa ,andmoral rights onlymortis
causa .Thecontracts shallcontain special provisions. Theduration ofeconomic rights shallbelimited.
Thegeneral termshallbethelifeoftheauthor and50years afterhisdeath. Special terms shallbe
provided forphotographic works andworks ofapplied art(25years fromthepublication ofthework),
foranonymous andpseudonym works andcomputer programs. Theduration ofmoral rights shallnot
belimited.
Apart fromindividual acquisition ofcopyright thereshallbecollective administration ofpublic
performance rightandrightofmechanic reproduction.
TheLawshallalsocontain special provisions onciviljudicial protection.
Thesecond partoftheLawrelates torights ofperformers. Theprovisions governing such
rights aresystematized similarly totheprovisions governing therights oftheauthors. Those arethe
provisions onthefieldofapplication oftheLaw, onmoral andeconomic rights andtheirlimitations,
mostly inaccordance withtheRome Convention andonunlimited duration ofmoral rights, aswell
asontheacquisition andprotection ofthose rights incivilprocedure.
Forthetimebeing legalprovisions arenotprovided forother neighbouring rights.
ThethirdpartoftheLawshallcontain thepenal provisions withregard totheinfringement
oftheauthors 'rights andoftheperformers 'rights.
(b) trademarks, including service marks;
Basic Provisions Regulating theProcedure FortheGrant oftheTrademark Rights
(hereinafter: registration)
Theprotection oftrade andservice marks intheRepublic ofCroatia isregulated onthebasis
of:
- Industrial Property Law
- Regulations ontheProcedure fortheGrant oftheTrademark Rights
- LawGoverning Administrative FeesfortheEstablishment ofRights ofIndustrial
Property
Onthedayofpromulgation ofitsindependence, onOctober 8,1991, theRepublic ofCroatia
hasadopted theformer Federal LawontheProtection ofInventions, Technical Improvements and
Distinctive Signs (NN53/91) which under changes andamendments carried outinApril 1992, has
changed itstitletoIndustrial Property Law.
Thefieldoftrademark rights shallberegulated bytheabove mentioned Lawaswellasby
theadopted Regulations onProcedure Concerning Trademark Rights.WT/ACC/HRV/15
Page5
According totheexisting Lawatrademark oraservice markprotects asignwhich, ineconomic
transactions ofgoods orservices, isintended fordistinguishing goods and/or services ofthesame or
similar kind.
Marks shallbeparticularly words, letters, numbers, graphical presentations, abbreviations,
three dimensional forms, forms ofpacking orambalage, combinations ofcolours andcombination
ofaforementioned signs.
Trademark Registration Procedure
Theacquisition oftrademark rights intheRepublic ofCroatia isbased ontheregistration.
Registration procedure shallbeinstituted byfiling thetrademark application totheStatePatent
Office. Theapplication maybefiledwithregard toanindividual oracollective mark. Then follows
theexamination ofallformal andlegalaspects onthebasis ofwhich itshallbeestablished whether
therequirements forthegrant ofthetrademark rightarecomplied with.
Ifduring theprocedure itshallbeestablished thattherequirements fortheprotection ofthe
proposed signarenotcomplied with,theapplicant shallbeinvited tosubmit astatement andfileevidence
ofpossible newfacts. After theexpiration ofthetermforsubmitting astatement, theOffice shallmake
acorresponding decision. Ifitshallbeestablished thatalltherequirements provided bytheLaware
complied with, theOffice shallissue thedecision onthegrant ofatrademark right.
Thegranted right shallbeentered intothetrademark register andshallbepublished inthe
official gazette.
Procedure forthedeclaration ofthedecision onthegrant ofthetrademark rightnullandvoid
maybeinstituted, ontherequest ofanyinterested person orexofficio, during thewhole period of
protection.
Application oftheInternational Classification ofGoods andServices
TheRepublic ofCroatia isaparty totheNiceUnion since 8October 1991, which means that
theuseoftheInternational Classification ofGoods andServices inrespect oftrademark application
shallbeobligatory interms ofitsconsistent application inmaking listofgoods and/or services. The
State Patent Office hastranslated andpublished theNiceClassification intheCroatian language.
Requirements oftheProtection -Absolute Reasons forExclusion
According totherequirements oftherelevant Lawapplicable intheRepublic ofCroatia, no
signshallbeprotected asamark:
(1) which iscontrary tothelawormorality;
(2) which isnotcapable ofdistinguishing goods orservices ineconomic transactions;
(3) which indicates thekindofproduct orservice, orthepurpose forwhich itserves, thetime
ormethod ofproduction, quality, price, quantity, weight, name ofplaceorgeographical origin;
(4) which iscustomary forthedesignation ofspecific kinds ofgoods orservices;
(5) which may,byitsformandcontent, create confusion inthemarket and,inaparticular, mislead
anaverage consumer withregard totheorigin, kind, quality orother properties ofthegoods
orservices;
(6) which contains official signsandhallmarks forcontrolling orguaranteeing thequality ofgoods
orimitations thereof;WT/ACC/HRV/15
Page6
(7) which isidentical withanalready protected signbelonging toanother person andrelating to
thesame orsimilar kinds ofgoods orservices;
(8) which issimilar toanalready protected signbelonging toanother person andrelating tothe
sameorsimilar kinds ofgoods orservices, ifthesimilarity could confuse anaverage consumer;
(9) which contains aState orother official armorial bearings, flagoremblem, orname or
abbreviated name ofaforeign country orinternational organization andimitations thereof,
except withtheconsent oftheofficial authorities ofsuchacountry ororganization.
Thename orimage ofaperson maybeprotected onlywiththeconsent ofsuchaperson.
Thename orimage ofadeceased person maybeprotected onlywiththeconsent ofthespouse
andchildren ofthedeceased, andifthedeceased 'sparents arealive, theirconsent isnecessary aswell.
Thenameorimageofanhistoricalorothereminentpersonalitymybeprotecteduponpermission
ofthecompetent authority.
Rights oftheTrademark Owner Acquired bytheRegistration
Theowner ofthetrademark rightshallacquire exclusive righttousetrademark ineconomic
transactions inrespect ofprotected goods and/or services andtoexercise therighttotakelegalmeasures
interms ofexcluding rights ofanother person tousethesameorasimilar signineconomic transactions
fortheidentification ofthesame orsimilar goods and/or services.
Validity ofmarks;
Termination ofTrademarks intheEvent ofNon-Use
Amark shallbevalid foraperiod of10years, counting from thedayoffiling atrademark
application. Theacquired rightontrade, service mark respectively, maybeextended unlimitedly as
many times aswanted, providing thatthetrademark beusedandmaintained through payment of
prescribed administrative fees,attheexpiration ofeach10-years period.
Iftheowner ofatrademark, without justified reason, doesnousethemarkformorethan5years
asfromthedateoftheregistration ofthemark, orasfromthedatethemark waslastused, theOffice
shall, onrequest ofinterested person, make adecision onthetermination ofatrademark.
NewTrademark LawUnder Preparation
Atthismoment intheRepublic ofCroatia anintegral Law, governing threefields ofindustrial
property: patents, trade andservice marks andindustrial designs, isinforce. With regard tothe
legislation theorientation oftheRepublic ofCroatia isthateachformofindustrial property, shallbe
governed byaseparate law.TheLawshallsubstantially respect theentire international normative and
legalevolution inthefieldoftrademark rights (TRIPS, TLT, Council Regulation ontheCommunity
Trademark, etc.)andatthesame timeshallreflect shifts initsownexperimental cognitions based on
theimportant development ofallsocial andeconomic conditions intheRepublic ofCroatia.
(c) geographical indications, including appellations oforigin;
AlthoughCroatiahaslegallyregulatedthefieldofappellationsoforigintheelaborationisplanned
ofseparate, newlegislation harmonized witharticles 22and24ofTRIPS Agreement andEUDirective
forthefieldofgeographical indications.WT/ACC/HRV/15
Page7
Thementioned fieldisregulated bytheLawonIndustrial Property (particularly articles 37-
43),bytheRegulations onMore Detailed Settlement ofMatters Concerning Procedure fortheGrant
ofRights fortheProtection ofInventions andDistinctive Signs -onlyChapter V-,Provisions on
More Detailed Settlement ofMatters Concerning Procedure fortheEstablishment ofAppellations of
Origin andRecordial ofAuthorized Users ofSuch Appellation.
Thecriminally legalprotection isprovided inthearticle 107oftheCriminal LawoftheRepublic
ofCroatia (NN32/93) which stipulates "anyperson wanting tomislead abuyer byputting onthemarket
products withtheindication containing datanotcorresponding tothecontent, kind, origin orquality
oftheproduct orbyputting onthemarket products which bytheirweight andquality donotcorrespond
towhatispresumed under suchproducts orbyputting tothemarket products without theindication
ofthecontent, kind, origin orquality oftheproduct when suchindication isprescribed", shallbe
sentenced toprison uptothree years andshallpayamonetary fine.
Thementioned fieldisadditionally regulated bytheLawonWine (NN34/95), theRegulations
ontheQuality ofWine (NN53/91) andtheRegulations ontheQuality ofSpirits.
(d) industrial designs;
Theabove mentioned Industrial Property LawandtheRegulations ontheProcedure forthe
Grant ofRights toModels orSamples (NN53/91) shallregulate alsothefieldofarighttoamodel
orarighttoasample (industrial designs).
Thesubject ofProtection:
Anewexterior shape ofanindustrial orhandicraft product orapartthereof shallbeprotected
byamodel.
Anewpicture ordrawing which canbetransferred toindustrial orhandicraft product ora
partthereof shallbeprotected byasample.
TheAcquisition ofProtection
Arighttoindustrial designs shallbeacquired inaprocedure forthegrant ofrights ledbythe
StatePatent Office, asacompetent authority. Theprocedure shallbeinitiated byfiling theapplication
foramodel orasample totheOffice.
Thegranted rights shallbeentered intotheregister ofmodels andsamples keptbytheOffice,
while theowner oftherightshallreceive acertificate onamodel orasample respectively. Thegranted
rights shallbepublished intheofficial gazette -theCroatian Patent Gazette.
Requirements Concerning theAcquisition ofRights
Inaddition totherequirements offormal compliance ofanapplication foramodel orasample
respectively, prescribed bytheRegulations, exterior shapes, pictures anddrawings, inorder tobe
protected byamodel orasample respectively, shallbenew,i.e.essentially different fromthose earlier
applied forandofthose which havebeen, prior tothefiling oftheapplication, made available tothe
public.WT/ACC/HRV/15
Page8
Duration oftheProtection
Arighttoamodel orasample respectively shalllastforaperiod of10years counting from
thedateoffiling theapplication andshallnotbeextended.
Membership intheInternational Industrial Designs Agreements
TheRepublic ofCroatia isaparty totheLocarno Agreement Establishing anInternational
Classification forIndustrial Designs andshallapply initsentirety, theInternational Classification
Established bythesaidAgreement.
Inthenearfuture theRepublic ofCroatia intends toaccede toTheHague Agreement Concerning
Deposit ofIndustrial Designs.
With theaimofsetting upamodern system ofindustrial designs protection intheRepublic
ofCroatia theelaboration isinprocess ofthenew,separate LawonIndustrial Designs, whose adoption
isplanned fortheendof1996. TheDraft oftheNew Lawhasentirely respected alltheTRIPS
provisions, particularly inarticles 25and26,aswellastheother modern achievements onnational
andinternational level.
(e) patents;
Legislation
Theprotection ofinventions shallberegulated by:
- theabove mentioned Industrial Property Law
- Regulations ontheProcedure ofthePatent Grant
Apatent shallprotect aninvention asanewtechnical solution toaspecific problem, which
istheresult ofcreative work, which istechnically feasible andthepublication anduseofwhich shall
notbecontrary tothelawormorality.
Theinvention is:
- new, ifitdoesnotform partofthestateoftheart.Thestateoftheartisallthatis
inwritten ororalform, byuseorinanyother waymade available tothepublic, prior
tothedateoffiling theapplication foraninvention;
- theresult ofthecreative work, ifthesolution tothetechnical problem foranexpert
obviously doesn 'tresult from theknown stateoftheart;
- industrially applicable, ifitcanbeproduced orifitcanbeusedinanybranch of
industry, including agriculture.
ThePatent Applicant
maybeoneorseveral, natural orlegalpersons, inwhich case, ifoneapplication isfiledby
several persons, thepatent shallbegranted toeachoftheapplicants forapatent, without establishing
themutual relationship oftheapplicants andtheshare ofeachofthepatent applicants inthepatent.
Theapplicant maybeanational oraforeign national, considering thatforeign legalornatural
persons, tobeabletoparticipate inaprocedure before thisOffice, havetoberepresented bythepersons
registered attheState Patent Office.WT/ACC/HRV/15
Page9
Procedure forPatent Grant
shallbeinitiated byfiling anapplication forapatent inthewritten form totheState patent
Office, onaspecial form, containing usual data.
Apatent application isfrom aformally-legal aspect suchanapplication which shallcontain:
- arequest forapatent grant;
- dataonanapplicant;
- partswhich onafirstsightrepresent adescription oftheinvention andapatent claim.
Onepatent application shallbe,asarule,filedonlyforoneinvention. Nevertheless, several
inventions maybecovered byoneapplication provided thattheyareclosely related insuchawayas
tomake upasingle inventive concept (unity oftheinvention).
Theconstituent partofthepatent application shallbe:
- adescription oftheinvention
shallbecarried outwithsufficient clarity anddetail toenable aperson having ordinary
skillinthearttoapply itinagiven fieldonthebasis ofsuchadescription.
- apatent claim
havetocontain anindication ofwhatisnewabout theinvention andwhattheapplicant
wants tobeprotected byapatent.
- ashort summary ofthesubject matter oftheinvention (abstract)
- adrawing (ifnecessary) invoked inadescription andapatent claim.
Apatent shallnotprotect: scientific theories anddiscoveries, mathematical methods, aesthetic
creations, rules, methods andguidelines forintellectual activities, computer programs (ifnotinseparable
partofatechnical solution) andother rules, plans andguidelines forintellectual activities. From the
patent protection excluded shallbealsoinventions ofsurgical ordiagnostic process oraprocess of
treatment applied directly onliving human oranimal body(itshallnotconcern aninvention ofprocess
fortheapplication ofsubstance indiagnostic purposes orpurposes oftreatment) andaplant variety
orananimal kind.
From thedayandthehourofthefiling ofacorrect application totheOffice, theapplicant
shallhaveprotection priority right overanyother person subsequently filing anapplication forthe
same invention. Such apriority right shall begranted totheapplicant inallmember-states tothe
International Union fortheProtection ofIndustrial Property (Croatia isamember oftheUnion) if
heshallfilethesameapplication totheirOffices, 12months asofthedateofthefirstapplication ("Union
right ofpriority"). Thepriority right maybeacquired alsoonthebasis ofexhibiting theinvention
onanofficially recognized exhibition ("Exhibition priority right").
Apatent application shallnotbeavailable tothepublic untilitspublication intheCroatian
Patent Gazette.
Anapplicant oranyother person may, within 6months counting fromthedayofpublication,
filearequest forthefullexamination oftheconditions forthepatent grant.
Ifintheprocedure ofcomplete examination itshallbeestablished thatalltherequirements
arecomplied with, theOffice shallmake adecision onthepatent grant.WT/ACC/HRV/15
Page10
Although itisnotapermanent orientation oftheRepublic ofCroatia, theexisting Industrial
Property Lawprovides fortheobligatory complete examination oftheconditions forthepatent grant.
Therequests fileduptonowhavebeensettled through aprofessional assistance oftheAustrian
Patent Office, according totheAgreement onCooperation signed onOctober 31,1995.
Duration ofapatent
Apatent shall bevalid foraperiod of20years, counting from thedayoffiling apatent
application. Ifapatent ofaddition became abasic patent, itshallnotbevalid longer thanitshallbe
thevalidity ofthebasic patent towhich relates theadditional one.
Thefeesandcharges inthepatent grant procedure
Thefeesandcharges intheprocedure ofpatent grant shallberegulated by:
1. LawGoverning Administrative FeesfortheEstablishment ofRights ofIndustrial Property
(NN27/93);
2. Decision onProcedure Special Charges andInformation Service Charges oftheState Patent
Office (NN20/93).
Forapatent application, theadministrative feeshallbepayed atthetimeoffiling.
Tomaintain agranted rightitisnecessary topayannual feesforthemaintenance ofapatent.
Annual feesrelate tothe12-months periods thefirstofwhich shallbegin withthedayoffiling the
application.
Inthecaseanapplicant isatthesame timeaninventor, theamount ofmentioned feesshall
besignificantly diminished.
Iffeesorexpenses intheprocedure forgranting arightarenotpaid, theapplication
shallberejected; iffeesorcosts concerning themaintenance ofagranted rightarenotpaid,
thisrightceases tobevalid.
International patent conventions andtreaties
TheRepublicofCroatiaisapartytotheParisConventionfortheProtectionofIndustrial
Property.
Arrangements arebeing made fortheaccession oftheRepublic ofCroatia tothePatent
Cooperation Treaty.
Thesigning oftheAgreement withtheEuropean Patent Organization isplanned. It
willenable aperson whofilesanapplication withtheEuropean Patent Organization toacquire
thepatent fortheRepublic ofCroatia aswell(Extension Agreement).
Arrangements foranewlaw
Arrangements arebeing made fordrafting theLawonPatents, theapplication ofwhich
isexpected for1997. Indrafting thelawtheprovisions ofTRIPs andPLT(Patent LawTreaty)WT/ACC/HRV/15
Page11
willbefully observed andinternational, regional andparticularly theEuropean Union 's
experience andachievements inthisfieldtaken intoaccount.
Anumber ofregulations relevant totheLawwillbeadopted aswell, e.g.theLaw
onRepresentatives, theLawonFees, theRegulation onExpenses, theLawonInventions by
Employees, theLawonConfidential Inventions andtheRegulations.
f) plant variety protection;
Uptonowtheprotection ofnewly created plant varieties hasbeenregulated bythe
Lawonregistration ofnewandapproval ofintroduction offoreign varieties inproduction and
protection ofagricultural andforestry varieties (theformer Yugoslav law)., which hasbeen
incorporated in1991. intotheCroatian legislation. TheRepublic ofCroatia hasadeveloped
researchsystemandapplicationofnewplantvarieties,whichhasresultedinasignificantincrease
inproductionduringthelast20years.TheInternationalOrganizationforPlantVarietyProtection
(UPOV) haspassed in1991. theConvention onnewplantvariety protection, andhasrequested
andproposed totheRepublic ofCroatia tobecome amember ofthisorganization, under the
condition thatitimmediately starts toaddress issues concerning thismatter through lawsand
regulations. Judging thatitisnecessary tobecome amember oftheUPOV, andduetothe
factthatanumber ofregistered Croatian hybrids areusedinanumber ofcountries, theRepublic
ofCroatia initiated work onitsnewLawonprotection ofnewplant varieties, which is
completely based ontheConvention onnewplant varieties protection from 1991. ThisLaw
regulates thefollowing issues:
1) ways andprocedures forprotection ofplant varieties, theprocedure ofgranting the
plant breeders rights andprotection tothemain bearer ofthebreeders rights;
2) thetermagricultural plant variety breeder, breeders rights andplant varieties;
3) thebaseforbreeders rights isCroatian citizenship orresidence intheRepublic of
Croatia (fornatural persons) andtheestablishment andheadquarters intheRepublic
ofCroatia forlegal persons. Foreign legal andnatural persons canalsoachieve
breeders rights byapplying theprinciple ofreciprocality which ispresumed until
opposite isnotproven;
4) work inconnection withplant varieties protection iscarried outbytheInstitute for
Agricultural SeedProduction, nursery production, registration andprotection ofplant
varieties which isestablished bytheMinistry ofAgriculture andForestry;
5) thevariety isconsidered protected when itisgranted breeders rights forthevariety
which isnew, distinguishable, uniform andnamed;
6) TheInstitute keeps aBook ofregistrations forgranting ofbreeders rights, Register
ofbreeders rights, Register ofrepresentatives andpublishes anofficial gazette inwhich
information concerning theprocedure ofgranting plant breeders rights andafter
receiving thegrant;
7) afterhaving hisplant breeders rights granted theplant breeder cantransfer hisrights
byagreement, totally orpartially, orgrant therightofsigning licensing agreements
ormandatory licenses;WT/ACC/HRV/15
Page12
8) theprocedures ofgranting breeders rights iscarried outaccording totheLawongeneral
administrative procedure, andthelegalprotection isachieved intheauthorized Trade
Court.
Bypassing oftheLawonplantvarieties protection theRepublic ofCroatia gains the
conditions tobecome amember oftheInternational Organization forPlant Variety Protection
(UPOV), andinthiswayenables thepossibility toreproduce andsellprotected plantvarieties,
andprotect theplantbreeder rights onnewly created varieties frommisuse, similar totheway
Lawonindustrial ownership covers theareaofpatents. Theapproval ofthisLawintheCroatian
Parliament isexpected soon, since theDraft proposal ofthisLawisinanadvanced phase of
theParliamentary procedure.
(g) layout designs ofintegrated circuits;
Theprotection ofsemi-conductor chips andmasks forsemi-conductor chips hasnot
beenregulated inCroatia yet.Theadoption oftheLawonSemi-conductors (which includes
integrated circuits) isplanned, which would enter intoforce attheendof1997.
(h) requirements onundisclosed information, including trade secrets andtestdata;
Trade secret intheCroatian lawisnotcomparable totheinstitution oftrade secret
recognized bythelawof,forexample, USA, butsome protection inthissense isprovided
under theprovisions oftheCriminal Law(NN(Official Gazette) 32/93), Article 104,referring
tocrimes against economy -release andunauthorized acquisition oftrade secret; theLabour
Law(NN38/95), Articles 89,92,para4,Article 93and155,referring toinventions made
atwork andinconnection withwork andtheprotection oftrade secret andprohibiting the
competition ofemployees withtheemployer; theTrade Law(NN11/96), Article 58,para1,
indented line13,saying thatunfair market competition implies unlawful acquisition ofatrade
secret ofanother dealer orunlawful useofaconfided trade secret ofanother dealer; andthe
Companies Law(NN111/93), Articles 248,273and629,referring totheprohibition of
competition, theliability fordamage inflicted bytheuseofone'sinfluence inthesociety and
thebreach oftheobligation toprotect asecret.
Additional protection canbeprovided byenterprises themselves, intheirownstatutes,
by-laws andcontracts concluded withemployees andenterprises theycooperate with, ifthey
incorporate thenecessary provisions intorelevant contracts intherightmanner.
(i) other categories ofintellectual property;
Thecurrent industrial property lawprovides fortheso-called technical advance asa
specific institution oftheprotection ofintellectual property rights. Ithasbeentaken overinto
theCroatian legislation withtheformer federal LawontheProtection ofInventions, Technical
Advances andDistinctive Signs.
Technical advance initscurrent form willnotbeincluded inthefuture Croatian
legislation inthefieldoftheprotection ofindustrial property rights.
3. MEASURESTOCONTROLABUSEOFINTELLECTUALPROPERTYRIGHTS:
Thelegislation oftheRepublic ofCroatia regulates legalmechanisms fortheprotection
ofintellectual property rights, bothinadministrative, civilandcriminal law.WT/ACC/HRV/15
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Firstofalltheconstitutionalstandardsguaranteeingtheprotectionofintellectualproperty
should bementioned. Article 18oftheCroatian Constitution guarantees theright toappeal
against individual legalactsandArticle 19thejudicial review ofthelegality ofindividual acts
ofadministrative authorities. Article 68guarantees thefreedom ofscientific, cultural andartistic
creativity andtheprotection ofmoral andmaterial rights deriving from scientific, cultural,
artistic, intellectual andother creative endeavour.
Theconstitutional basis isreflected intheadequate approach tothelegalregulation
ofintellectual property rights.
TheMinistry oftheInterior 'sDepartment forCombatting Economic Crime, theMarket
Inspectorate oftheMinistry ofEconomy andtheFinancial Police oftheMinistry ofFinance
areinstitutionswhichtakemeasuresaimedatpreventingtheinfringementofintellectualproperty
rights. Tomention anexample, in1994 and1995 theMinistry oftheInterior 'sDepartment
forCombatting Economic Crime seized 22,554 audio tapes, 2,140 CDsand52,345 video tapes,
allillegally produced.
Theabuse ofcopyright andtheright ofperformers iscontrolled byagents ofthe
organization ofauthors fortheprotection oftherights ofpublic performance andmechanical
reproduction oragents oftheorganization forperformers 'rights.
The abuse ofindustrial property rights iscontrolled bytheso-called
representatives-patent, i.e.marks representatives, registered withtheStatePatent Office, who
actonbehalf ofbothforeign anddomestic legalandnatural persons intheprocedure forthe
protection ofindustrial property rights fortheterritory oftheRepublic ofCroatia.
4. ENFORCEMENT:
(a) civiljudicial procedures andremedies;
Inthefieldofcivilprocedure theprotection ofintellectual property rights isregulated
bytheIndustrial Property Law, hereinafter: IPL,initsArticles 117-129 (NN53/91, 19/92,
26/93, 29/93 and100/93). Itstipulates thatrights protecting inventions anddistinctive signs
shall beopposed byfiling aclaim withthecompetent court, which decides ontheclaim
immediately (Article 122ofIPL).
Thejudicial protection isalsoprovided forbytherelevant provisions oftheCopyright
Law(hereinafter: CL),Articles 95-99 andArticle 99,paras u)andv)(NN53/91, 58/93). Under
thisLaw, thecourt candecide thatthedefendant beprohibited anyfurther infringement of
acopyright, thattheinfringing objects bedestroyed oraltered andthatthedecision bepublished
atthecostofthedefendant.
These Laws stipulate thataperson whose intellectual property righthasbeeninfringed
against isentitled tothecompensation ofmaterial andnon-material damage, bothunder specific
lawsandthebasic principles ofthecompensation formaterial andnon-material damage under
theLawonMandatory Relations. Judicial protection ofintellectual property rights isalso
envisaged bytheLawontheProtection ofMarket Competition (NN48/95), Chapter IV,"Penal
Provisions", Article 39.Fines referred toinArticle 39alsoapply topreventing andlimiting
research andinnovation activities aswellastechnological development andtheinvestment for
these purposes, described inArticle 7,para5,point 5,andArticle 20,para1,point 7.WT/ACC/HRV/15
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Since theabove mentioned offenses imply theinfliction ofdamage duetothe
aforementioned infringements, thedamaged party isalsoentitled todamages under thegeneral
rulesondamages oftheLawonMandatory Relations, Chapter II,Section 2,Articles 154-209.
Heorsheobtains damages intheregular civilprocedure.
Theciviljudicial protection ofintellectual property rights isrealized byfiling aclaim
withthecompetent court. Under Article 19,points 1d)ande)oftheLawonCourts (NN3/94),
procedures under theclaims fortheprotection ofintellectual property rights liewithin the
exclusive jurisdiction ofcommercial courts. They decide "disputes concerning theprotection
anduseofinventions, distinctive signs andtechnical advances andtherighttotheuseoffirm,
aswellasdisputes concerning copyright, unless stipulated otherwise byaspecific law,and
disputes arising fromanactofunfair competition, monopolist agreements andinfringements
against equality intheintegral market oftheRepublic ofCroatia".
Beside this,Article 8oftheLawonJurisdiction andSeatofCourts (NN3/94) stipulates
thatoutofeight courts offirstinstance onlyfourdecide disputes concerning theprotection
anduseofinventions, patterns, models andmarks andtherighttotheuseoffirm, anddisputes
arising fromcopyright. These courts aretheCommercial Courts inOsijek, Rijeka, Splitand
Zagreb, which inthese matters cover theentire Croatian territory. Forthese kinds ofdisputes
theyhavespecialized councils.
Under Article 43,para5oftheLaw onLegal Proceedings (hereinafter: LCP)
(NN53/91, 91/92), alldisputes arising fromcopyright anddisputes concerning theprotection
oruseofinventions andtechnical advances, patterns, models ormarks, ortherighttotheuse
offirmorname, aredecided infirstinstance bythecouncil, irrespectively ofthevalue ofthe
matter indispute ”,which shows thatthelegislation hasattached special importance tothese
kinds ofdisputes, excluding thepossibility thatanindividual judge candecide suchdisputes
depending onthevalue ofthematter indispute (Article 43,para1ofLCP).
Asfortheapplication ofsubstantive law,theprovisions oftheIndustrial Property Law,
Copyright LawandtheLawontheProtection ofMarket Competition areapplied, aswellas
theprovisions oftheLawonMandatory Relations concerning thecompensation formaterial
andnon-material damage anddisputes arising fromcontractual licenses andothergeneral norms
ofthelawonobligations.
Thejudicial protection oftheintellectual property rights istwo-stage, which means
thatanappeal canbelodged withtheCroatian High Commercial Court against adecision by
acourt offirstinstance.
Anexceptional legalremedy provided forinArticle 382ofLCPisreview, filedwith
theCroatian Supreme Court. Another specific quality oftheprotection ofintellectual property
rightsisthatreviewisalwaysallowedindisputesarisingfromcopyrightanddisputesconcerning
theprotection anduseofinventions andtechnical advances, patterns, models ormarks and
theright totheuseoffirmorname, andindisputes arising from unfair competition and
monopolist conduct, irrespectively ofthevalue ofthematter indispute, while inother cases
review islimited bythevalue ofthematter indispute.
(b) provisional measures;
IntheCroatian procedural law,inallkinds ofdisputes alsoprovisional measures laid
down inArticles 262-274 oftheLawonEnforcement Procedure (hereinafter: LEP) (NN53/91
and91/92) areapplied. Courts metethem outupon therequest ofaparty andinproceduresWT/ACC/HRV/15
Page15
fortheprotection ofintellectual property rights. Theadoption ofthenewLawonEnforcement
Procedure isunder way, which willinclude provisions onprovisional measures andsecure
anefficient protection ofcreditors andholders ofintellectual property rights.
(c) administrative procedures andremedies;
Theadministrative procedure andlegal remedies inthatprocedure areregulated by
theLawonAdministrative Procedure (NN53/91) andtheLawonAdministrative Disputes
(NN53/91 and91/92), aswellastheIndustrial Property Law, Copyright LawandtheLaw
ontheProtectionofMarketCompetition,whichregulatetherulesoftheadministrativeprocedure
intheareaofintellectual property andtheprotection against monopolist conduct.
Asarule,theadministrative procedure hastwostages, withthepossibility ofinitiating
anadministrative lawsuit against anactoftheappellate court andagainst acourt forwhich
theprocedure doesnothavetobetwo-staged (likeintheareaofindustrial property) before
theCroatian Administrative Court, which caneither accept theappeal orreject itasunfounded.
Inthelattercasethedisputed actiscancelled (Article 42oftheLawonAdministrative Disputes).
(d) special border measures;
Croatia hasadopted theLawontheRatification oftheInternational Convention on
theHarmonization ofBorder Controls ofGoods, thuscommitting itself toorganizing all
necessary border control services: customs, medical andsanitary, veterinary, phytosanitary,
quality andtechnical standards controls. Themarket inspectorate oftheMinistry ofEconomy,
which hascontrolled thequality ofagricultural andfoodproducts attheborder foryears, will
startcarrying outthetechnical standards control aswellon1June1996.
Thequality control ofagricultural andfoodproducts andthetechnical standards control
primarily include thecontrol ofthedatafromcustoms declaration, which, among other things,
hastobeintheCroatian language andLatin script. Itusually contains dataonthename of
theproduct, producer andhisseat,country oforigin, product ingredients orcontents, expiry
dateandtheCroatian importer. Beside this,technical products contain technical instructions,
warrantee andalistofservice facilities.
Thetrademark iscontrolled, aswellaswhether anytextorbarcodeontheproduct
hasbeenstruck outorerased, withaviewtoprotect general agents fortheRepublic ofCroatia.
Formostproducts themarket inspectorate usesvarious authorized institutions, which
areactually experts ininspection procedures. They examine indetail whether aproduct
corresponds toquality levels prescribed byquality regulations andCroatian standards. The
Croatian Standardization Office carries outtheattestation procedure itselforthrough authorized
organizations, aswellasthehomologation procedure.
Allthese measures ofthequality andtechnical standards controls aimatprotecting
agoodproduct andaforeign producer, securing thelawfulness ofimportation totheRepublic
ofCroatia andpreventing counterfeiting astotheproduct quality anditstrademark, i.e.
protecting intellectual property rights.
Croatia willdefinitely introduce amore reliable system oftheborder enforcement of
intellectual property rights innearfuture. There isstillnospecial lawontheborder control
oftheimportation ofcounterfeited goods andplagiarisms. Asalready mentioned, thiscontrolWT/ACC/HRV/15
Page16
iscarried outwithin thequality andtechnical standards controls. Assoonasthislawisdrafted,
weare,ofcourse, ready toprovide ittoallinterested parties.
(e) criminal procedures;
Criminal lawprotection ofintellectual property rights isregulated byArticles 173-175
oftheIndustrial Property Law, Articles 100-105 a)oftheCopyright Law, theCriminal Law
oftheRepublic ofCroatia (NN32/93) andtheBasic Criminal LawoftheRepublic ofCroatia
(NN31/93).
Articles 173-175 oftheIndustrial Property Lawprovide forthepunishment forminor
infringements ofindustrial property rights (economic transgression, offenses), forwhich it
prescribes monetary finesonly.
Articles 100-105 oftheCopyright Lawdefend copyright bymonetary fines and
imprisonment forsixmonths tofiveyears. Amendments totheCopyright Lawtaken over
from theformer state(NN58/93) provided forstricter punishment and,withoneexception,
exofficio prosecution, unlike earlier, when prosecution wasinitiated upon private lawsuit.
Articles 100-102 oftheCopyright Lawregulate crimes inthisarea, andArticle 103provides
fortheforfeiture ofobjects which came intobeing through, wereusedforthepurpose ofor
intended forthecommitment ofthecrime oroffence. Monetary finesforoffenses inthisarea
areregulated byArticles 103-105a).
Thecriminal LawoftheRepublic ofCroatia (NN32/93), Article 107,regulates the
crime ofmisleading thebuyer; itstipulates thatanyone who, withtheintention tomislead the
buyer, releases intocirculation aproduct withanidentification containing datawhich donot
correspond tothecontents, kind, origin orquality oftheproduct, releases intocirculation a
product theweight orquality ofwhich doesnotcorrespond towhatisassumed tobethecase
withsuchaproduct, orreleases intocirculation aproduct without anyidentification astoits
contents, kind, origin orquality ifsuchanidentification isprescribed, shallbeimprisoned
foruptothree years orfined.
TheBasic Criminal LawoftheRepublic ofCroatia (NN31/93), Article 145,regulates
thecrime oftheunauthorized useofsomeone else’sfirm. Itprescribes uptothree years of
imprisonment foranyone whousessomeone else’sfirm, trademark orspecial distinguishing
mark forgoods orincorporates certain features ofmarks intohisorherfirm, trademark or
specialdistinguishingmarkforgoodswiththeintentionofmisleadingbuyersorusersofservices.
Article 204oftheBasic Criminal LawoftheRepublic ofCroatia regulates theinfringement
ofinventor ’sright, prescribing animprisonment between three months andfiveyears forthe
unauthorized useofafiledorprotected invention anduptooneyearimprisonment forthe
unauthorized publication ofthesubstance ofsomeone else’sfiledinvention before theinvention
ispublished inamanner stipulated bylaw.TheLawalsoprovides fortheforfeiture ofbenefits
acquired bythecrime. Article 151oftheLawregulates thecounterfeiting ofsigns formarking
goods, measures andweights; itprescribes animprisonment between three months andfive
years forthose whomake falsemarks formarking domestic orforeign goods, likeseals, stamps
orhallmarks stamped ongold, silver, cattle, wood orother goods withtheintention touse
them asgenuine ones, alters suchgenuine marks orusesfalsemarks asgenuine ones.WT/ACC/HRV/15
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5. LAWS, RULES, REGULATIONS AND OTHER LEGAL ACTS CONCERNING
THE ABOVE MENTIONED
- Constitution oftheRepublic ofCroatia (NN56/90)
- Industrial Property Law(NN53/91, 19/92, 26/93, 29/93 and100/93)
- Copyright Law(NN53/91 and58/93)
- LawontheProtection ofMarket Competition (NN48/95)
- LawonLegal Proceedings (NN53/91 and91/92)
- LawonEnforcement Procedure (NN53/91 and91/92)
- LawonMandatory Relations (NN53/91, 73/91, 111/93, 3/94, 107/95 and7/96)
- Criminal LawoftheRepublic ofCroatia (NN32/93 and38/95)
- Basic Criminal LawoftheRepublic ofCroatia (NN31/93, 35/93 and108/95)
- LawonGeneral Administrative Procedure (NN53/91)
- LawonAdministrative Disputes (NN53/91, 9/92and77/92)
- Trade Law(NN11/96)
- Labour Law(NN38/95)
- Companies Law(NN111/93)
- LawonCourts (NN3/94)
- Regulation onIdentifying Confidential Inventions concerning National Defence and
Security andtheManner ofGranting Patents forsuchInventions (NN53/91)
- Regulations ontheProcedure forPatent Grant (NN35/91)
- Regulations ontheProcedure fortheGrant oftheTrademark Rights (NN35/91)
- Regulations ontheProcedure fortheGrant ofRights toModels orSamples (NN35/91)
- Regulations onRegulating inMore Detail Issues Connected withtheProcedure for
GrantofRightsProtectingInventionsandDistinctiveSigns-onlyChapterV-provisions
which regulate inmore detail issues concerning theprocedure foridentifying the
appellation oforigin ofaproduct andtheregistration ofauthorized users ofthat
appellation (NN53/91)
- Regulations onProfessional Requirements forCarrying outanActivity inWhich
Copyright orRights ofPerformers areExercised (NN1/94)
- Regulations onRemunerations forPublic Performance andtheCommunication tothe
Public ofMusical Works andRemunerations forUsing Music Materials (NN80/92,
72/93, 29/95 and50/95)
- RegulationsonRemunerationsforUsingFixedPerformancesofPerformers(NN62/95)
6. STATISTICAL DATA ONREQUESTS FOR THE GRANT OFAND ON
GRANTEDINTELLECTUALPROPERTYRIGHTSASWELLASSTATISTICAL
DATA ONTHEIR ENFORCEMENT
a) Statistical dataonrequests forthegrant ofandongranted intellectual property
right;
According toArt.12paragraph 3oftheLawonChanges andAmendments oftheLaw
ontheProtection ofInventions, Technical Improvements andDistinctive Signs, applied inthe
Republic ofCroatia asaCroatian Law(NNRC19/92): "...Patent, trademark anddesign
applicants whosubmitted afirstapplication totheformer Federal Patent Office (hereinafter:
FPO) before October 8,1991, orwhosubmitted anapplication totheformer FPOinvoking
thepriority rightbased onafirstapplication inaMember Country oftheInternational Union
fortheProtection ofIndustrial Property, andwhich application hasneither beenrefused nor
wastherightgranted bytheformer FPObefore October 8,1991, could filethesameapplication
totheState Patent Office (hereinafter; SPO) uptoMarch 31,1995 ("Official Gazette ofthe
Republic ofCroatia", 100/93 and78/94)."WT/ACC/HRV/15
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According toArt.10paragraph 1oftheLawonChanges andAmendments oftheLaw
onProtection ofInventions, Technical Improvements andDistinctive Signs, applied inthe
Republic ofCroatia asaCroatian Law(NNRC19/92): "Allrights ofindustrial property which
aregranted bythedecisions oftheformer FPOuptoOctober 8,1991arevalidontheterritory
oftheRepublic ofCroatia uptotheirexpiration. Upon therequest oftherightful claimants
fromtheaforementioned paragraph, theStatePatent Office willenterthisparticular rightinto
thecorresponding register ..."