The novelty of an invention will not be affected if it is disclosed within 12 months before its patent application date or priority date:
- disclosed by the inventor;
- Disclosed by the Patent Application Accepting Authority,
- and that information is included in:
- In other applications of the inventor, and disclose the application when the relevant authority should not disclose the application;
- In applications submitted by third parties who have obtained information directly or indirectly from the inventor without the inventor's permission;
- Disclosure of the invention by a third party who has obtained information, directly or indirectly, from the inventor.
no
Reinstatement of priority on grounds of "due care" accepted.
yes
yes
The initial protection period is 5 years, renewable 4 times, up to 25 years.
- 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.
yes
yes. After the applicant pays the corresponding fee, he can apply to change the patent type from invention to utility model.
The novelty grace period is 6 months before the filing date/priority date.
10 years