- via Paris Convention : 12 months from earliest priority date.
- via Nationalization of PCT : 30 months from the earliest priority date.
- Validation of European Patent in EPO member states: 3 months from the date of European patent grant.
Reinstatement of priority is accepted on grounds of "due care."
A 6-month novelty grace period is available if the disclosure is caused by a third party in bad faith.
yes
The PPO only conducts formality examination of utility model patent applications, only examines novelty and industrial applicability, and does not examine inventive step.
no
yes
25 years
The PPO conducts formal and substantive examinations of invention patent applications. There is no need to file a request for substantive examination, and the substantive examination starts automatically.
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.