INPI only conducts a formality examination of the invention patent application, but still needs to pay the search fee within one month from the filing date and conduct a search by the EPO, and the search result does not affect the granted result.
INPI only conducts formality examination of design patent applications.
Filing Language: French Necessary documents:
- Exterior Design Picture (Six Views)
- A Brief Description
Attachments (if any):
- Power of Attorney
- Certified Priority Document
- Declaration of Ownership/Certification of Employment/Assignment of priority
- Assignment for Patent Right Transfer
- small entity declaration
- inventor statement
- Business license for company registration or articles of incorporation
The novelty grace period is 6 months before the filing date/priority date.
INPI only conducts formality examination of utility model patent applications, and does not conduct search and substantive examination. However, in case of litigation, a search report needs to be submitted.
25 years
20 years
- 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.
- via Paris Convention : 6 months from earliest priority date.
- EU route: 6 months from earliest priority date.
- Hague Agreement route: 6 months from earliest priority date.
Reinstatement of Priority Accepted on Unintentional Grounds.
The novelty grace period is 6 months before the filing date/priority date.