Uporabni model – nov oblik intelektualnog vlasništva u Republici Hrvatskoj

With the entry into force of the new Patent Act (Official Gazette No. 16/2020), it is possible to protect a new form of intellectual property in the Republic of Croatia; the utility model. The aim of this paper is to investigate the characteristics of that institute, especially its scope of protection and in this regard to analyse the similarities and differences of the newly introduced institute in relation to similar industrial property rights that exist in comparative law. Furthermore, the paper will attempt to demonstrate the similarities and the differences between the protection of the utility model and the consensual patent that existed in the Republic of Croatia before the adoption of the new Act.