Which is the competent authority for patent applications for inventions in Belgium?

3 months

yes. A maximum of 50 designs may be included under the same Locarno category.

Belgian Federal Government Intellectual Property Office

English: The Belgian Intellectual Property Office, Abbreviation: IPObel

Website: Intellectual property | FPS Economy (fgov.be)

Belgian invention patent search: Search in the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (CBE) | CBE Public Search (fgov.be)

• via Paris Convention : 6 months from earliest priority date.
• EU route: 6 months from earliest priority date.
• Hague Agreement route: 6 months from earliest priority date.

The novelty grace period is 12 months before the filing date/priority date.

1-2 years

The novelty grace period is 6 months before the filing date/priority date.

IPObel conducts only formality examination of invention patent applications. The applicant needs to submit a search request within 13 months from the date of the latest application. The search report will be issued by the EPO with a written opinion on patentability, but it is not binding. The patent application is completed within 18 months from the earliest priority date Authorization can be obtained after publication.

no

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.