A 6-month novelty grace period is available if the disclosure is caused by a third party in bad faith.
If disclosed by the author or his successor, the novelty grace period shall be enjoyed within 12 months after the first disclosure.
yes
no
yes. An invention applicant may propose to change the type of invention from an invention to a utility model during the process of examining the application or within two months from the date of the final decision on the refusal to grant a patent. The utility model application shall be deemed to have been filed from the date of the invention application. A utility model application converted from an invention must fully meet the requirements for utility model documents.
yes
10 years
no
1-6 months
Reinstatement of priority is accepted on grounds of "due care."
The PPO only conducts formality examination of the design, and does not examine novelty and uniqueness.