The patent application confidentiality review procedure refers to a review procedure that needs to be carried out in accordance with relevant regulations when the applicant intends to apply for a patent abroad for an invention created in the country to determine whether the patent application itself involves national security or major interests . For the sake of national security, most countries in the world have formulated corresponding confidentiality review systems. Patent applicants need to submit a request for confidentiality review to their own intellectual property management agencies before filing patent applications in foreign countries, and they can only do so after meeting the corresponding conditions. Apply to a foreign country.
- German confidentiality review system: Except for applications involving state secrets, other applications do not need to submit a request for confidentiality review. Patent applications containing state secrets (section 93 of the Criminal Code) can only be filed under this law with the written consent of the highest federal competent authority. Submitted outside the applicable territory. Consent may be given subject to conditions.
- Timing of filing: At least 2-4 weeks before filing a patent application in a foreign country
- Filing Language: German
- Submission method: electronic form (online submission)
- Requester: Applicant
- Official Fee: None