Which is the competent authority for patent applications for inventions in Portugal?

Portuguese National Institute of Industrial Property

English: Portuguese Institute of Industrial Property, abbreviation: INPI

URL: https://inpi.justica.gov.pt/

Portuguese invention patent search: Pesquisa Online - Patentes (justica.gov.pt)

• Licensing Fee: None.
• Annuity: From the 5th year onwards from the date of application, it will be paid year by year. The application fee includes annual fees for the first and second years. There is no annual fee for the third and fourth years, but the applicant needs to notify INPI for renewal in the third and fourth years. All subsequent annual fees must be paid within six months before the date corresponding to the year of application. Overdue annual fees can be paid within a 6-month grace period, and 50% of the annual fee of the current year is required to be paid as a penalty.

INPI conducts formality examination and substantive examination of invention patent applications. Substantive examination begins automatically, without the need to file a separate request.

INPI only conducts formality examination of utility model patent applications. Substantive examination may only be requested if the applicant deems it necessary. An invention protected by a patent can be protected simultaneously or successively with a utility model. To this end, applicants have a maximum of 1 year to make changes.

A novelty grace period of 6 months is available if:

• Disclosures caused at officially organized or officially sanctioned international exhibitions
• Disclosure resulting from being made public for reasons related to the misuse of the inventor or its predecessor owner

yes. Before the applicant has received a final decision, an application to change the type of invention from a utility model to an invention may be proposed.

no

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

no