Patent Application Encyclopedia

10 years

no

yes

• via Paris Convention : 12 months from earliest priority date
• via Nationalization of PCT : 31 months from the earliest priority date (Applications may be filed within 3 months of expiry of the 31-month period, subject to payment of additional fees.)
• Ways to take effect in Europe: within 3 months of the European patent grant announcement date

• Licensing Fee: None.
• Annuity: After the patent is granted, the annual fee shall be paid year by year starting from the fourth year of the application date. The annual fee can be postponed and paid within 6 months after the expiration date at the latest, but a 50% penalty must be paid at the same time.

none

10 years

IMPI conducts only formality examination of designs.

3 months

• via Paris Convention : 12 months from earliest priority date.
• via Nationalization of PCT : 31 months from earliest priority date.

20 years

ATPO only conducts formality examination of design patent applications.

The Costa Rican Patent Office conducts formal and substantive examinations of utility model patent applications. After passing the examination, the Patent Office will publish the Costa Rican patent application. If no opposition arises within the publication period, the patent will be granted.

The novelty grace period is 12 months before the filing date/priority date.

• via Paris Convention : 6 months from earliest priority date.
• Hague Agreement route: 6 months from earliest priority date.
• EU appearance route: 6 months from the earliest priority date.

IPOS only conducts formality examination of design patent applications, and the examination content includes: novelty statement, classification and article/non-physical product name, and whether the picture is suitable for reproduction.

yes. Before the applicant has received a final decision, an application to change the type of invention from a utility model to an invention may be proposed.

The novelty grace period can be enjoyed within 12 months from the filing date/priority date in the following cases:

• Disclosures made by, or with the permission of, the applicant

• If the disclosure occurs in an officially held or recognized international exhibition

  Applicants should submit disclosure details when filing a patent application with MOIC.

The DGIP conducts formal and substantive examinations of utility model patent applications.