yes. Patent applicants can change the patent type from invention to petty patent (utility model) before the patent application is granted. The converted patent application has the filing date of the original patent application.
5-8 years
If within 12 months before the filing date/priority date, the essence or details of the invention are maliciously disclosed, or exhibited by the inventor in an international or official exhibition, the invention does not lose its novelty.
- Authorization Fee: None
- Annuity: The applicant should pay the first annual fee at the beginning of the 5th year from the application date. If it is authorized at the beginning of the 5th year, it must be paid within 60 days from the date of granted. If the annual fee is overdue, it can be paid within 120 days of the overdue period. The annual fee can be paid for multiple years at one time.
6 months
no
If within 12 months before the filing date/priority date, the essence or details of the invention are maliciously disclosed, or exhibited by the inventor in an international or official exhibition, the invention does not lose its novelty.
Reinstatement of priority on grounds of "due care" accepted.
The initial period of protection is 6 years, which can be renewed twice, up to a maximum of 10 years.
- via Paris Convention : 12 months from earliest priority date.
- via Nationalization of PCT : 30 months from the earliest priority date.
10 years