- via Paris Convention : 6 months from earliest priority date.
- Hague Agreement route: 6 months from earliest priority date.
- EU appearance route: 6 months from the earliest priority date.
If the disclosure is caused by the designer, the novelty grace period is 12 months from the date of disclosure.
INPI only conducts formality examination of design patent applications.
no
3 months
- via Paris Convention : 6 months from earliest priority date.
- Hague Agreement route: 6 months from earliest priority date.
- EU appearance route: 6 months from the earliest priority date.
no
no
yes. Before the applicant receives the final decision, it may be proposed to change the type of invention from invention to utility model.
12-14 months
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.