yes
5-7 months
yes
Inventors have a novelty grace period of 12 months after disclosure (including sale).
Reinstatement of priority is accepted on grounds of "due care."
yes.
- Within 3 years from the filing date, the patent type can be changed from utility model to invention upon request of the applicant
- Utility model patents can be converted to design patents at any time
A conversion fee shall be paid for patent type conversion. Once the original patent application is converted, it will be deemed withdrawn.
- Grant fee: The applicant shall pay the granted fee within 30 days after receiving the granted notice.
- Annuity: The annual fee for the first to third years must be paid together with the application fee when the patent application is filed, and the annual fee will be paid year by year from the fourth year, and the payment period corresponds to the granted date. 200% of the year's annual fee paid within the month is a late fee.
10 years
Inventors have a novelty grace period of 12 months after disclosure (including sale).
yes. Within 3 years from the date of application, or within 3 months from the date of receipt of the rejection decision, the patent type can be changed from design to invention/utility model at the request of the applicant.
A conversion fee shall be paid for patent type conversion. Once the original patent application is converted, it will be deemed withdrawn.
The JPO conducts formality examination and substantive examination of the design patent application, and the substantive examination starts automatically, and the applicant does not need to submit a separate substantive examination request. JPO mainly examines the novelty and inventiveness of designs.
- (*Secret design: applicants can request that their design remain secret for 3 years from the filing date).