2-3 years
yes
The USPTO conducts formal and substantive examinations of patent applications. The substantive examination starts automatically, and the applicant does not need to submit a separate substantive examination request. The applicant is obliged to disclose through the Information Disclosure Statement (IDS) details of information that has an impact on the patentability of the invention, including but not limited to prior art, publications, sales records, etc. This obligation extends to the announcement of the grant of the patent or the withdrawal of the patent application. Failure to disclose significant prior art may result in the patentee being unable to enforce the underlying patent.
- No official fee is required if the IDS is filed within three months from the filing date or before the first office action is issued.
- An additional official fee is payable if the information cited in the IDS appeared in a foreign patent application three months before the filing of the IDS, or if the applicant or the applicant's representative completed the invention three months ago
Reinstatement of the right of priority on the grounds of "unintentional" is accepted and subject to payment of the right of priority restoration fee.
- via Paris Convention : 12 months from earliest priority date.
- via Nationalization of PCT : 30 months from the earliest priority date.
no
1-1.5 years
yes
- Grant fee: The applicant shall pay the granted registrar's fee 3 months after receiving the granted decision notice.
- Annual Fee: None.
- via Paris Convention : 6 months from earliest priority date.
- Hague Agreement route: 6 months from earliest priority date.
no