1-2 years
20 years
The novelty grace period is 6 months before the filing date/priority date.
INPI only conducts formality examination of utility model patent applications, and does not conduct search and substantive examination. However, in case of litigation, a search report needs to be submitted.
Reinstatement of Priority Accepted on Unintentional Grounds.
no. (Utility models submitted before January 11, 2020 can be converted into inventions, provided that the technical preparations for publication are completed (approximately 16 months from the filing date). Search fees and search reports must be submitted at the same time.)
INPI only conducts a formality examination of the invention patent application, but still needs to pay the search fee within one month from the filing date and conduct a search by the EPO, and the search result does not affect the granted result.
Filing Language: French
via Paris Convention Necessary documents:
- Abstract
- Abstract Drawing
- Claim
- Specification
- Drawing
Attachments (if any)
- Sequence Listing (PDF format and TXT format)
- Certificate of Deposit of Microorganisms and its French translation
- Certificate of Microbiological Survival and its French Translation
- Certified Priority Document
- Declaration of Ownership/Certification of Employment/Assignment of priority
- Assignment for Patent Right Transfer
- Notification issued by CNIPA notify the applicant the application has passed through the security review
- Business license for company registration or articles of incorporation
- Relevant information of references of other national applications with the same priority should be provided upon request of INPI)
yes
25 years
INPI
English: L'Institut national de la propriété industrielle, abbreviation: INPI
Website: www.inpi.fr
French Utility Model Search: Recherche avancée - Data INPI