In such an environment, intellectual property has become the most valuable item in a company’s asset and one of very important components in the business world in general. Having realized this, Croatia has brought a series of acts at the end of 2003 on the protection of intellectual property so that the Croatian legal framework is fully coordinated with EU’s regulation.
Croatia is a member of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and is a signatory of all important international instruments in the field of intellectual property. As a full WTO member, Croatia is a party to the Uruguay Round Agreement on Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).
From 1 July 2013 Community Trademark System – CTM and Community Design – CD are also applicable within the territory of the Republic of Croatia. From that date a new intellectual property right is also introduced – an Unregistered Community Design. This right is acquired without formal registration procedure, through the public disclosure within the European Union, and refers to the prohibition of abuse by the reproduction of protected designs.
Likewise, from 1 July 2013 new legal institutes are introduced in area of patent rights – Supplementary Protection Certificate for Medicinal Products intended for humans and animals as well as for plant protection products which provide the possibility of additional extensions of the basic patent protection for medicines intended for humans and animals as well as plant protection products.
Finally, some activities related to the protection of intellectual property rights in the Republic of Croatia may be performed, beside the natural and legal persons from the Republic of Croatia under the same conditions by those coming from the European Union.
Texts of relevant laws are available on the website of the official body for the registration of intellectual rights, the State Intellectual Property Office (www.dziv.hr/en).
Copyright and Related Rights Act (OG, No. 167/03, 79/07, 80/11, 125/11, 141/13)
Patent Act (OG, No. 173/03, 87/05, 76/07, 30/09, 128/10 and 49/11)
Patent Regulation (OG, No. 117/07, 03/11, 66/11 and 145/12)
Industrial Design Act (OG, No. 173/03, 76/07, 30/09, 49/11)
Industrial Design Regulations (OG, No. 72/04, 117/07 and 66/11)
Act on Geographical Indications and Designations of Origin of Products and Services (OG, No. 50/12)
Regulations on the Protection of Topographies of Semiconductor Products (OG, No. 72/04 and 117/07)