6-18 months
The novelty grace period is 12 months before the filing date/priority date.
The initial protection is 5 years, which can be renewed 4 times, each time for 5 years, and the maximum protection can be 25 years.
yes. A Benelux design application may contain multiple designs, but not more than 50 designs.
5-8 months
20 years
6 years
OPI conducts only formality examination of design patent applications.
- via Paris Convention : 12 months from earliest priority date.
- via Nationalization of PCT : 20 months from the earliest priority date.
*Luxembourg is one of the only countries in the world that still retain Chapter I for 20 months to enter the national phase (the other is Tanzania). If it takes 30 months to enter the national phase, a request for international preliminary examination must be filed.
Reinstatement of priority is accepted on grounds of "due care."
Reinstatement of priority is accepted on grounds of "due care."