Patent Application Encyclopedia

10 years

10 years

If the patent is disclosed due to the display at the exposition or unintentional disclosure, the novelty grace period can be enjoyed within 6 months before the filing date/priority date.

yes

IMPI conducts formal and substantive examinations of utility model patent applications. There are three ways to submit an application to INPI: online application, mailing and submitting a written application to INPI in person. No matter which way the application is filed, the application date of the patent is the time when the patent applicant sends the complete patent application text to INPI. IMPI accepts only one independent claim in a utility model application. Applicants are required to pay the substantive examination fee within 3 months from the date of application. The time limit for responding to the Office Action Notice is 3 months from the date of issue, and can be extended 3 times (one month each time). The requirements for utility models are relatively loose, and they need to be novel and practical, but not inventive.

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

• via Paris Convention : 12 months from earliest priority date.
• via Nationalization of PCT : 30 months from the earliest priority date.

• Authorization Fee: None
• Annuity: The renewal fee is paid every 5 years. If the renewal fee is not paid within the time limit, it can be paid within the 6-month grace period and the penalty should be paid at the same time.

4-6 months

no

INPI only conducts formality examination of design patent applications.

yes. A patent applicant can convert the patent type from a petty patent (utility model) to an invention before the patent application is granted. The converted patent application has the filing date of the original patent application.

20 years. Pharmaceutical invention patents have supplementary protection certificates (Supplementary protection certificates, SPC), which can extend the protection period for 5 years.

no

The JPO conducts formality examination only for utility model patent applications.

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

A 12-month novelty grace period is available if the invention is disclosed by the applicant or its agent in any form of communication within one year of the filing date or priority date, or exhibited at a national/international exhibition. Appropriate evidence must be submitted at the time of application.

yes

Design applications in Hungary are examined automatically by the Office. The review process includes formal review and substantive review. The patent office will also conduct a novelty search and send the results to the applicant.