yes. The applicant may request to change the patent type from utility model to invention before the utility model patent application is granted.
Novelty of the invention shall not be lost if the inventor, or a third party who directly or indirectly obtains relevant information from the inventor, discloses the invention information within 12 months before the filing date/priority date.
3-5 years
12-18 months
UKRPATENT only conducts formality examination of utility model patent applications. The objects protected by utility models are the same as those protected by invention patents (i.e. products, processes, new uses of known products and processes).
- yes. The same category may include multiple designs in one design.
- via Paris Convention : 12 months from earliest priority date.
- via Nationalization of PCT : 31 months from earliest priority date.
The invention does not lose its novelty if the inventor, or a third party who directly or indirectly obtains relevant information from the inventor, discloses the invention information within 12 months before the filing date/priority date.
no
no
- Grant fee: The applicant shall pay the patent announcement fee and the annual fee for the first five-year period within 3 months after receiving the patent granted decision.
- Annuity: pay year by year from the first year of the application date. If the annual fee is overdue, the payment can be postponed within a grace period of 6 months after the expiration of the deadline, and a 50% penalty must be paid at the same time.