yes
- Authorization Fee: None
- Annuity: The annual fee is paid every 5 years. The overdue annual fee can be paid within a grace period of up to six months after the due date, and a 20% late fee will be paid at the same time. Pay within the first 3 months of the grace period with no late fees.
yes. If multiple designs have at least one of the same category, a maximum of 50 designs can be included in one design.
Austrian Patent Office
English: Austrian Patent Office, abbreviation: ATPO
Website: Home | Das Österreichische Patentamt
Austrian Utility Model Patent Search: National Patents Search (patentamt.at)
ATPO conducts formality examination only for utility model patent applications. Although ATPO searches utility model patent applications, the search results do not affect the grant results. The applicant may amend the patent application after receiving the search report.
yes
yes. Before the patent is granted/rejected, the patent type can be changed from invention to utility model at the request of the applicant. Can only be converted once.
yes
- 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 grant of the European patent.
If within 12 months before the filing of the design patent application, due to the disclosure of the designer or its former right holder, the novelty grace period can be enjoyed.
The initial protection is 5 years, which can be renewed 4 times for a maximum protection of 25 years.