Who is the competent authority for patent applications in the Netherlands?

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

4 months

1-2 years

20 years, and the protection of pesticide or pharmaceutical patents can be extended to 25 years.

• Licensing Fee: None.
• Annuity: After the patent is granted, the annual fee shall be paid year by year starting from the fourth year of the application date. The annual fee can be postponed and paid within 6 months after the expiration date at the latest, but a 50% penalty must be paid at the same time.

Reinstatement of priority is accepted on grounds of "due care."

The RVO conducts only formality examination of design patent applications.

Design: 5 years, renewable 4 times, 5 years each time, up to 25 years of protection.

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