ATPO only conducts formality examination of design patent applications.
- via Paris Convention : 6 months from earliest priority date.
- EU route: 6 months from earliest priority date.
- Hague Agreement route: 6 months from earliest priority date.
yes. Prior to patent grant/rejection, the patent type can be converted from utility model to invention at the request of the applicant. Can only be converted once.
11 months. If an expedited request is made, granted can be obtained in about 3-4 months.
- Authorization Fee: None
- Annuity: After granted, it will be paid year by year from the 4th year from the date of application, and should be paid within 3 months before the date of application each year. If the annual fee is overdue, the payment can be postponed within a grace period of 6 months, but a surcharge of 20% is required. The first annual fee (i.e. the 4th year) can be paid within 6 months of the late payment period without paying the penalty. It can also be paid every three years in the 4th to 6th year, and in the 7th to 10th year.
2 years
Reinstatement of priority on grounds of "due care" and "unintentional/due care" accepted.
ATPO conducts formality examination only for utility model patent applications. Although ATPO searches utility model patent applications, the search results do not affect the grant results. The applicant may amend the patent application after receiving the search report.
yes
no
- 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: within 3 months from the date of grant of the European patent.