Who is the Portuguese utility model patent authority?

• 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.

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

yes. Before the applicant has received a final decision, an application to change the type of invention from a utility model to an invention may be proposed.

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

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.
• Validation of European Patent in EPO member states: within 3 months from the date of granted of the European invention.

Portuguese National Institute of Industrial Property

English: Portuguese Institute of Industrial Property (INPI)

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

Portuguese Utility Model Patent Search: Pesquisa Online - Patentes (justica.gov.pt)

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

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

12-14 months