Patent Application Encyclopedia

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6-8 months

• 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.

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Designs with a filing date after March 10, 2022, where the first disclosure occurs after that date due to:

• Inadvertently making a design public
• Didn't know the design needed to apply for protection before it was disclosed

A design patent application can enjoy a novelty grace period of 12 months.

4-6 months

Costa Rican Intellectual Property Registry

English: Registry of Intellectual Property, abbreviation: RIP

Website: www.rnpdigital.com

yes. Before the applicant has received a final decision, an application to change the type of invention from a utility model to an invention may be proposed.

• Grant fee: Pay the granted official fee within 3 months after receiving the granted notice (no extension) and pay the annual fee due in the year of granted at the same time.
• Annuity: The annual fee is calculated from the first year, and the annual fee should be paid within 3 months after receiving the granted notice. The payment deadline for subsequent annual fees is the day before the announcement date of each year. If the annual fee is overdue, the payment can be postponed within the grace period of 6 months, and the penalty should be paid at the same time.

Japan Patent Office

English: Japan Patent Office, abbreviation: JPO

Website: Japan Patent Office (jpo.go.jp)

Japanese Utility Model Patent Search: Japan Platform for Patent Information｜J-PlatPat [JPP] (inpit.go.jp)

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).

IPObel conducts only formality examination of invention patent applications. The applicant needs to submit a search request within 13 months from the date of the latest application. The search report will be issued by the EPO with a written opinion on patentability, but it is not binding. The patent application is completed within 18 months from the earliest priority date Authorization can be obtained after publication.

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TIPO conducts formality examination and substantive examination of design patent applications, and the request for substantive examination must be filed within 3 years from 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.

Italian Patent and Trademark Office

English: Italian Patent and Trade Mark Office, abbreviation: UIBM

Website: www.uibm.gov.it

Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand

English: Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand, abbreviation: IPONZ

Website: Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand (iponz.govt.nz)

New Zealand invention patent search: Search Patent case(s) (iponz.govt.nz)

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