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- via Paris Convention : 12 months from earliest priority date.
- via Nationalization of PCT : 31 months from earliest priority date.
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yes. The type of patent can be changed from invention to utility model within 30 days of receiving the grant/rejection decision, and the corresponding fee should be paid.
For the design of partial substantive examination, multiple designs can be included in one design application, but the designs must belong to the same class in the international design classification.
KIPO adopts two examination systems, the Substantive Examination System (SES) and the Partial Substantive Examination System (NSES), for designs, and the applicant has no right to choose the examination route. The Partial Substantive Examination System (NSES) is for items that are popular, easy to imitate and have a short life cycle, such as food, clothing and men's clothing (category 2), travel goods (category 3), textiles, man-made and Natural panel materials (Class 5), packaging (Class 9), decorative articles (Class 11), stationery and office equipment, artists and teaching materials (Class 19). For some designs that have been substantiated, the applicant can obtain granted within 1-2 months from the date of submission of the application, and can enjoy new procedures such as combination design and post-granted opposition. The applicant can decide whether to disclose the design at the time of granted. After paying a certain confidentiality fee, the design can be requested not to be disclosed for 3 years. There are 32 levels in the Locarno classification system, but only 31 levels are used in Korea.
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Korean Industrial Property Office
English: Korea Intellectual Property Office, abbreviation: KIPO
Website: Korean Intellectual Property Office (kipo.go.kr)
Korean Utility Model Patent Search: Integrated Search < SEARCH - KIPRIS Patent Information searching service
KIPO conducts formality examination and substantive examination of utility model patent applications, but only needs to meet the standards of novelty and practicality, and does not require inventive step.
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Restoration of priority will not be accepted.