no
1-2 years
The RVO does not conduct substantive examination of invention patent applications. The applicant must submit a novelty search request at the same time as the application, or within 13 months from the date of application, and will receive a search report containing written opinions on novelty within 9 months from the date of the search request. , at which point the applicant has 2 months to make amendments or file a divisional case. The search results do not affect the granting of the patent.
Design: 5 years, renewable 4 times, 5 years each time, up to 25 years of protection.
- via Paris Convention : 12 months from earliest priority date.
- Validation of European Patent in EPO member states: 3 months from the date of European patent grant.
20 years, and the protection of pesticide or pharmaceutical patents can be extended to 25 years.
Reinstatement of priority is accepted on grounds of "due care."
The novelty grace period is 12 months before the filing date/priority date.
- via Paris Convention : 6 months from earliest priority date.
- EU appearance route: 6 months from the earliest priority date.
- Hague Agreement route: 6 months from earliest priority date.
The RVO conducts only formality examination of design patent applications.
