Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina does not provide a separate utility model right comparable to utility model regimes in some other jurisdictions.

Instead of a utility model, Bosnia and Herzegovina offers a consensual patent route. In practice, this mechanism is often used as a utility-model-like option for certain inventions where applicants seek a more streamlined path than a fully examined patent.

When it may be suitable (practical positioning)

A consensual patent route is commonly considered for:

  • incremental technical improvements,
  • inventions where the applicant prioritizes speed/procedural efficiency, and/or
  • cases where a patent right is desired with a potentially simpler prosecution pathway (depending on the applicable procedure).

Even though it may function similarly to a “small patent” in regional practice, a consensual patent is treated within the patent framework of Bosnia and Herzegovina.