The PPO only conducts formality examination of utility model patent applications, only examines novelty and industrial applicability, and does not examine inventive step.
1-6 months
Reinstatement of priority is accepted on grounds of "due care."
yes
- Grant fee: The applicant should pay the granted official fee, announcement fee and the first annual fee (that is, the annual fee for the first to third years) within 3 months after receiving the notification of the granted decision.
- Annuity: The applicant needs to pay the annual fee for the next stage in the sixth year and the eighth year respectively. Overdue annual fee can be paid within a grace period of 6 months. At the same time, 30% of the annual fee of the current year will be paid as a penalty.
- via Paris Convention : 12 months from earliest priority date.
- via Nationalization of PCT : 30 months from the earliest priority date.
- Validation of European Patent in EPO member states: 3 months from the date of European patent grant.
no
- Grant fee: The applicant should pay the announcement fee and the first annual fee (that is, the annual fee for the first to fifth years) within 3 months after receiving the notification of the granted decision.
- Annuity: Pay the annual fee for the next 5 years every 5 years. If the annual fee is overdue, you can pay it within a grace period of 3 months, and pay 30% of the annual fee for the current year as a late fee.
yes
10 years
A 6-month novelty grace period is available if the disclosure is caused by a third party in bad faith.