Norway, Global Patent GO - Introduction to Norwegian Patent Applications

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The land of ten thousand islands where electric vehicles travel unhindered

Norway, which has been rated as the most livable country by the United Nations for six consecutive years since 2001, and ranked first in the global human development index from 2009 to 2013, is located in the western part of Scandinavia, with a narrow territory from north to south. The coastline is long and winding, and there are more than 150,000 offshore islands. It is truly a "country of ten thousand islands". Norway is rich in oil and gas resources. It is the world's third largest natural gas exporter and the eighth largest oil exporter. According to the Norwegian Petroleum Administration, as of the end of 2021, Norway's proven and unproven oil and gas reserves were 15.9 billion cubic meters of oil. Equivalent, of which 8.016 billion cubic meters have been mined, accounting for approximately 50% of the total reserves.

Relying on deep-sea oil and gas exploration, Norway has successfully transformed from the poorest in Northern Europe to the richest in Northern Europe, creating a miracle of economic development. However, it did not get carried away and wait for nothing. Instead, it used the money earned from selling oil and gas to form the world's largest Sovereign Fund - Norwegian Pension Fund. As of 2021, the Norwegian Pension Fund has invested in 9,100 stocks in 69 countries and regions around the world, owning 1.4% of all global shares. In addition to being used to improve national welfare and hedge against economic cycles that may be caused by high oil dependence, the largest portion of the income earned by the fund is used to invest in new energy sources. The Norwegian government is also very determined to promote new energy vehicles. It not only announced that it will ban the sale of fuel vehicles from 2025, but also implemented a series of powerful subsidy policies. In Norway, the purchase of electric vehicles is exempt from purchase tax, import tax and buyer's value-added tax. Not only are electric vehicles free of charge after they hit the road, they can also be driven in bus lanes without paying city tolls or parking fees in public parking lots. In contrast, various pollution-related taxes on traditional fuel vehicles have been increased. This "carrot and stick" approach has successfully promoted the promotion of new energy vehicles. Data released by the Norwegian Road Federation shows that in Norway in 2022 Nearly 80% of the new passenger cars sold in 2018 were pure electric vehicles, which is equivalent to 4 out of every 5 new cars sold. It is worth noting that although the sales volume of new energy vehicles is high, there are currently no local car brands that are too strong in the Norwegian market, and the market concentration is very low. This is a situation where "heroes emerge from troubled times", which is very important for those who want to gain a share in the Norwegian market. It is undoubtedly very beneficial for Chinese new energy companies to have a piece of the pie.

Norway is a party to the Paris Convention and the PCT Patent Cooperation Treaty, so foreign companies and individuals can apply for patents in Norway through the Paris Convention and the PCT. Unlike China, there are no utility model patents in Norway, only invention patents and design patents. The application, examination, approval and subsequent protection of invention and design patents are governed by the Patent Law, the Employment Invention Law, and the Industrial Design Law respectively.

Introduction to the Norwegian patent system

1. Language for filing patent applications in Norway

  • The official languages for patent applications in Norway are Norwegian and English. If the application is filed in English, the Norwegian Industrial Property Office should inform the applicant before sending the grant notification that a Norwegian translation of the patent claims in the application must be submitted before the patent is granted, and set a deadline for submission of the translation.

2. Types of patent protection in Norway :

  • inventions, designs

3. Ways for Chinese applicants to apply for patents in Norway

  • Paris Convention, PCT international application enters the Norwegian national phase, European patent takes effect in Norway, direct application

4. Review unit:

  • Norwegian Intellectual Property Office, Norwegian Industrial Property Office (NIPO), NIPO is a government agency affiliated with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries.

5. Submission deadline

  • Paris Convention: 12 months
  • PCT route to Norwegian national phase: 31 months
  • Design: 6 months from earliest priority date

6. Review process

  • Formal examination: After submitting a patent application, NIPO initiates a preliminary investigation to review whether the submitted documents correspond to the content of the application and confirm that the minimum requirements for continued examination are met.
  • Publication: After passing the preliminary examination, the invention patent application will be published within 18 months from the priority date.
  • Substantive examination: Invention patent applications require substantive examination. Submitting a Norwegian invention patent application is deemed to request substantive examination at the same time; Norwegian design applications only undergo formal examination. Applicants may request a substantive examination (also called supplementary examination) for a fee. A request for substantive examination must be made at the time of filing. If the application meets the formal requirements, the design will be authorized regardless of the outcome of the voluntary substantive examination.
  • Authorization: After passing the formal examination and substantive examination procedures, if the examiner believes that the authorization conditions are met, the official will grant the patent right. The invention patent shall pay the Norwegian patent official authorization fee within two months after receiving the authorization notice. If the patent authorization fee is not paid, the patent authorization fee shall be paid. , the application will be revoked; no patent authorization fee will be charged for design patents.
  • Objection: The objection period is 9 months after the application for authorization. Anyone can object to the invention patent.

Features of Norwegian patents

1. The first examination opinion for an invention patent application is received approximately within 7 months after application. If an expedited request is submitted, the first examination opinion can be received within 4 months;

2. Norway can apply for multiple designs;

3． European patents can be valid in Norway.

Friendliness towards Chinese applicants:

★★★★

The value of patent rights:

★★★★

Completeness of rights protection mechanism:

★★★★