DIP conducts substantive examination of design patent applications, and only examines whether the conditions of novelty and industrial applicability are met.
no
Reinstatement of priority on grounds of "due care" accepted.
- via Paris Convention : 12 months from earliest priority date.
- via Nationalization of PCT : 30 months from the earliest priority date.
yes. Patent applicants can change the patent type from invention to petty patent (utility model) before the patent application is granted. The converted patent application has the filing date of the original patent application.
not applicable. Designs disclosed to the public prior to filing are not eligible for application.
yes. A patent applicant can convert the patent type from a petty patent (utility model) to an invention before the patent application is granted. The converted patent application has the filing date of the original patent application.
6 months
Reinstatement of priority on grounds of "due care" accepted.
via Paris Convention : 6 months from earliest priority date.
5-8 years