How long does it take for a Portuguese invention patent application to be granted?

20 years

The initial protection is 6 years, which can be extended twice, up to a maximum of 10 years.

A novelty grace period of 6 months is available if:

• Disclosures caused at officially organized or officially sanctioned international exhibitions
• Disclosure resulting from being made public for reasons related to the misuse of the inventor or its predecessor owner

INPI only conducts formality examination of utility model patent applications. Substantive examination may only be requested if the applicant deems it necessary. An invention protected by a patent can be protected simultaneously or successively with a utility model. To this end, applicants have a maximum of 1 year to make changes.

• via Paris Convention : 12 months from earliest priority date.
• via Nationalization of PCT : 30 months from the earliest priority date.

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

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)

12-14 months

INPI only conducts formality examination of design patent applications.