What's the difference between a national invention patent and a utility model patent?

1. Different protection objects: An invention refers to a new technical scheme proposed for a product, method or its improvement. Utility model refers to a new technical scheme suitable for practical use for the shape, structure or combination of products. 2. Different protection periods: the protection period of utility model patents is 10 years, and that of invention patents is 20 years, both from the date of filing. 3. Different creativity requirements: invention patents need to have "outstanding substantive characteristics and significant progress", while utility model patents only need to have "substantive characteristics and progress", and their creativity level requirements are far lower than inventions. 4. The examination and approval procedures are different: the utility model only carries out formal examination, while the invention patent needs substantive examination besides formal examination, so the authorization time is longer.