The RVO does not conduct substantive examination of invention patent applications. The applicant must submit a novelty search request at the same time as the application, or within 13 months from the date of application, and will receive a search report containing written opinions on novelty within 9 months from the date of the search request. , at which point the applicant has 2 months to make amendments or file a divisional case. The search results do not affect the granting of the patent.
20 years, and the protection of pesticide or pharmaceutical patents can be extended to 25 years.
The novelty grace period is 12 months before the filing date/priority date.
The novelty grace period is 6 months from the filing date/priority date.
Design: 5 years, renewable 4 times, 5 years each time, up to 25 years of protection.
- A Benelux design application may contain multiple designs, but not more than 50 designs.
- via Paris Convention : 12 months from earliest priority date.
- Validation of European Patent in EPO member states: 3 months from the date of European patent grant.
- 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.
1-2 years
The RVO conducts only formality examination of design patent applications.
