Which is the competent authority for patent applications for inventions in Portugal?

INPI conducts formality examination and substantive examination of invention patent applications. Substantive examination begins automatically, without the need to file a separate request.

3 months

Reinstatement of priority is accepted on grounds of "due care."

12-14 months

2-3 years

25 years

If the disclosure is caused by the designer, the novelty grace period is 12 months from the date of disclosure.

• Licensing Fee: None.
• Annuity: pay once every 5 years, and must be paid within 6 months before the due date of the application. If the annual fee is overdue, it can be paid within a grace period of 6 months, and a 50% penalty is required.

Portuguese National Institute of Industrial Property

English: Portuguese Institute of Industrial Property, abbreviation: INPI

URL: https://inpi.justica.gov.pt/

Portuguese invention patent search: Pesquisa Online - Patentes (justica.gov.pt)

• Licensing Fee: None.
• Annuity: From the 5th year onwards from the date of application, it will be paid year by year. The application fee includes annual fees for the first and second years. There is no annual fee for the third and fourth years, but the applicant needs to notify INPI for renewal in the third and fourth years. All subsequent annual fees must be paid within six months before the date corresponding to the year of application. Overdue annual fees can be paid within a 6-month grace period, and 50% of the annual fee of the current year is required to be paid as a penalty.