Novelty grace period is available if the design is disclosed by the designer or the designer's representative within 12 months before the application to IGE/IPI.
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.
IGE/IPI only conducts formality examination of design patent applications. No novelty review is performed. Applicants may request a 30-month delay in publication.
1 year
Authorization Fee: None
Annual Fee: Renewable every 5 years starting from the 5th year from the filing date.
Novelty grace period applies if the invention is disclosed to the public within six months of the filing date or priority date.
Reinstatement of priority is accepted on grounds of "due care."
Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property
English: Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property, referred to as:
Website: Startseite - Eidgenössisches Institut für Geistiges Eigentum
Swiss Invention Patent Search: Swissreg - Institute for Intellectual Property
- 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: 3 months from the date of European patent grant
no
3-5 years