Patent Application Encyclopedia

Multiple designs are allowed in one design application only if the designs belong to the same set (usually used or sold at the same time).

20 years, and the validity period of patents for pharmaceutical inventions and pesticide inventions can be extended to 25 years upon application.

yes

no

Inventors have a novelty grace period of 12 months after disclosure (including sale).

1 year

yes. The applicant may request to change the patent type from utility model to invention before the utility model patent application is granted.

no

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

The PPO conducts formal and substantive examinations of invention patent applications. There is no need to file a request for substantive examination, and the substantive examination starts automatically.

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

yes

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

no

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

Designs are entitled to a novelty grace period of 6 months from the filing date/priority date if:

• If a third party maliciously discloses the New Zealand application within 6 months of the filing date/priority date, making the design available to the public
• If a design application is made for a new or original textile product, the first confidential order does not affect the novelty of the application
• For example, when the design is disclosed to the government to assess the merits of the design
• If submitted within 6 months after the opening of the officially recognized exhibition

KIPO conducts formality examination and substantive examination of invention patent applications. Only after the application documents meet the conditions of formality examination, KIPO will assign the patent to the application number. Publication is completed within 18 months from the filing date/priority date. The applicant/interested party shall submit a substantive examination request no later than 5 years from the filing date. Once an examination request is made, it cannot be withdrawn, and KIPO conducts examination in the order in which the examination requests are filed. Patent applications that meet the grant conditions will be granted.