A novelty grace period of 6 months is available if:
- Disclosures caused at officially organized or officially sanctioned international exhibitions
- Disclosure resulting from being made public for reasons related to the misuse of the inventor or its predecessor owner
20 years
INPI only conducts formality examination of design patent applications.
- via Paris Convention : 12 months from earliest priority date.
- via Nationalization of PCT : 30 months from the earliest priority date.
Reinstatement of priority is accepted on grounds of "due care."
2-3 years
A novelty grace period of 6 months is available if:
- Disclosures caused at officially organized or officially sanctioned international exhibitions
- Disclosure resulting from being made public for reasons related to the misuse of the inventor or its predecessor owner
no
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.
yes. Before the applicant receives the final decision, it may be proposed to change the type of invention from invention to utility model.
- 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.