Patent Application Encyclopedia

The novelty grace period is 6 months before the filing date/priority date.

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

IPONIGERIA conducts only formality examination of designs.

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.

15 years

• via Paris Convention : 12 months from earliest priority date.
• via Nationalization of PCT : 20 months from the earliest priority date.
• Validation of European Patent in EPO member states: within 3 months from the date of granted of the European invention.

*Luxembourg is one of the only countries in the world that still retain Chapter I for 20 months to enter the national phase (the other is Tanzania). If it takes 30 months to enter the national phase, a request for international preliminary examination must be submitted.

no

• Authorization Fee: None
• Annuity: pay year by year from the third year from the application date, and the payment deadline for the annual fee is the end of the month corresponding to the application date. If the annual fee is overdue, it can be paid within a grace period of 6 months, and a late fee of 20.00 Euros should be paid at the same time.

10 years, renewable 2 times, 5 years each time, up to 20 years of protection.

no

• Grant fee: The announcement fee includes the granted official fee.
• Annuity: pay year by year from the second year of the application date, and should be paid on the date of the application date. If the annual fee is overdue, it can be paid within a grace period of 6 months, and at the same time pay 160.00 Bahraini dinar (large entity) late fee.

• Licensing Fee: None.
• Annuity: The patentee is required to renew the design registration within 6 months of the renewal due date. If the annual fee is overdue, it can be paid within a grace period of 6 months, and the penalty should be paid at the same time.

Utility models in Hungary are subject to formal and substantive examinations, but not novelty and inventive steps.

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

not applicable.

20 years

• Authorization Fee: None
• Annuity: The applicant should pay the annual fee from the first year to the year of granted in one lump sum within 6 months from the date of granted (calculated from the date of application). Then the annual fee is paid year by year, and the deadline is one month before the application date of each year. If the annual fee is overdue, it can be paid within a grace period of 12 months, and a penalty should be paid at the same time.