| Filing Language: German/French/Italian |
Necessary documents:
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Attachments (if any):
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Reinstatement of priority is accepted on grounds of "due care."
20 years
IGE/IPI conducts formal and substantive examinations of invention patent applications. The applicant does not need to file a separate request for substantive examination. Before commencing the substantive examination, IGE/IPI will send an examination bill, which will indicate the deadline for payment of the prescribed fees. Patents granted in Switzerland are automatically protected in Liechtenstein.
Authorization Fee: None
Annual Fee: Renewable every 5 years starting from the 5th year from the filing date.
- 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
1 year
Novelty grace period is available if the design is disclosed by the designer or the designer's representative within 12 months before the application to IGE/IPI.
no
The initial protection is 5 years, which can be renewed 4 times, each time for 5 years, and the maximum protection can be 25 years.
Novelty grace period applies if the invention is disclosed to the public within six months of the filing date or priority date.