10 years
INPI only conducts a formality examination of the invention patent application, but still needs to pay the search fee within one month from the filing date and conduct a search by the EPO, and the search result does not affect the granted result.
20 years
INPI
English: L'Institut national de la propriété industrielle, abbreviation: INPI
Website: www.inpi.fr
French Utility Model Search: Recherche avancée - Data INPI
- via Paris Convention : 12 months from earliest priority date.
- Validation of European Patent in EPO member states: 3 months from the date of European patent grant.
INPI only conducts formality examination of utility model patent applications, and does not conduct search and substantive examination. However, in case of litigation, a search report needs to be submitted.
INPI only conducts formality examination of design patent applications.
Filing Language: French
via Paris Convention Necessary documents:
- Abstract
- Abstract Drawing
- Claim
- Specification
- Drawing
Attachments (if any)
- Sequence Listing (PDF format and TXT format)
- Certificate of Deposit of Microorganisms and its French translation
- Certificate of Microbiological Survival and its French Translation
- Certified Priority Document
- Declaration of Ownership/Certification of Employment/Assignment of priority
- Assignment for Patent Right Transfer
- Notification issued by CNIPA notify the applicant the application has passed through the security review
- Business license for company registration or articles of incorporation
- Relevant information of references of other national applications with the same priority should be provided upon request of INPI)
Reinstatement of Priority Accepted on Unintentional Grounds.
The novelty grace period is 6 months before the filing date/priority date.
Filing Language: French Necessary documents:
- Exterior Design Picture (Six Views)
- A Brief Description
Attachments (if any):
- Power of Attorney
- Certified Priority Document
- Declaration of Ownership/Certification of Employment/Assignment of priority
- Assignment for Patent Right Transfer
- small entity declaration
- inventor statement
- Business license for company registration or articles of incorporation