The Institute for Intellectual Property of Bosnia and Herzegovina has recently reported on its website that the Administrative Council of the European Patent Organization (EPO) has sent an invitation to Bosnia and Herzegovina to accede to the European Patent Convention (EPC).

The EPO assessed that Bosnia and Herzegovina meets all the conditions for full EPO membership, a prerequisite for the country’s EU accession.

While Bosnia’s IP legislation is fully harmonized with the EPC, the approximate date of the deposit of the instrument of accession is not currently known.

It has been possible to extend European patents to Bosnia since 1 December 2004, after Bosnia signed the Co-operation and Extension Agreement with the EPO.

By: Tarik Prolaz

For more information, please contact Tarik Prolaz at our Bosnia and Herzegovina office.