Title: COVID-19 influence on the utility model registration activity in Bulgaria

Authors: Fanny Koleva

Addresses: Industrial Business Department, Business Faculty, University of National and World Economy (UNWE), 'Osmi Decemvri' Blvd., Studentski Grad 'Hristo Botev', Sofia 1700, Bulgaria

Abstract: The aim of the paper is to reveal whether COVID-19 influenced on the utility model registration activity in Bulgaria and if so, in what direction. The paper discloses the utility model protection concept in the country based on a comparison with patents together with the trends in the relevant activity of applicants in the period 2007-2021 (i.e., before and after COVID-19 beginning) analysing the effect of the pandemics on it in a variety of dimensions. The paper respectively reaches the conclusion that although the general figures show that COVID-19 had no negative influence on the registration activity in the first pandemic year, the further in-depth analysis discloses that such an influence is at hand and moreover - that it is significant. The same conclusion for a negative impact is at hand for 2021 as well. The figures for the first half of 2022, however, show that a change starts taking place probably.

Keywords: utility models; registration activity; Bulgaria; inventions; patents; COVID-19; applicants; technology; intellectual property; protection.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIPM.2024.138327

International Journal of Intellectual Property Management, 2024 Vol.14 No.3, pp.256 - 273

Received: 17 Aug 2022
Accepted: 18 Dec 2022
Published online: 01 May 2024 *

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