The novelty grace period is 6 months before the filing date/priority date.
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
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.
- 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.
yes
INPI
English: L'Institut national de la propriété industrielle, abbreviation: INPI
Website: www.inpi.fr
French Utility Model Search: Recherche avancée - Data INPI
yes
no
1-2 years
yes
20 years