The PPO only conducts formality examination of the design, and does not examine novelty and uniqueness.
The PPO conducts formal and substantive examinations of invention patent applications. There is no need to file a request for substantive examination, and the substantive examination starts automatically.
no
no
10 years
Reinstatement of priority is accepted on grounds of "due care."
20 years
2-4 years
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.
- Grant fee: The applicant should pay the announcement fee and the first annual fee (that is, the annual fee for the first to fifth years) within 3 months after receiving the notification of the granted decision.
- Annuity: Pay the annual fee for the next 5 years every 5 years. If the annual fee is overdue, you can pay it within a grace period of 3 months, and pay 30% of the annual fee for the current year as a late fee.