Patent guides

Short, practical guides to patents in Croatia and Europe, written for founders, inventors and companies. Each one starts with a direct answer and links to the free tool that helps with the next step.

• How to stop someone else from patenting your inventionYou don't need a patent to stop others patenting your idea: publish it with a provable date. Your options, costs and limits, and how to do it for free on Open Prior Art.6 min read
• How to sell or license a patentHow to sell or license a patent in Croatia and Europe: the difference between a sale and a licence, what buyers check, how to value it and how to record the change in the patent register.6 min read
• How long does a patent last in Croatia?A Croatian patent lasts up to 20 years from the filing date, a utility model up to 10 years, as long as the annual fees are paid. What happens if a fee is missed, and how European patents and SPCs fit in.4 min read
• Patent or utility model: which one fits?Patent or utility model in Croatia: term, examination, what can be protected and when each fits. A utility model lasts 10 years and is registered without examining novelty or inventive step.5 min read
• Validating a European patent in CroatiaHow a European patent takes effect in Croatia: translation of the claims into Croatian, the three-month deadline, the fee, and why the unitary patent does not cover Croatia.5 min read