A 12-month novelty grace period is available if:
- The applicant authorizes others to use
- manifest misuse by a third party
no
- via Paris Convention : 12 months from earliest priority date.
- via Nationalization of PCT : 31 months from earliest priority date.
- Validation of European Patent in EPO member states: 3 months from the date of European patent grant
4-6 months
no
20 years
Reinstatement of priority on grounds of "due care" and "unintentional/due care" accepted.
The BPO conducts formality examination of design patent applications.
no
- Grant fee: It will be paid together with the granted announcement fee one month after receiving the granted notice, and the payment will be doubled if it is overdue.
- Annuity: The renewal fee payment period is the corresponding date of the application date in the year, and can be paid within the last year of the current validity period. Payment can still be made within 6 months from the overdue date, subject to a penalty.
Reinstatement of priority on grounds of "due care" and "unintentional/due care" accepted.