Can individuals apply for patents online?

Legal analysis: Ordinary individuals can apply for a patent in China by themselves or entrust a patent agency to handle it. If it is a special individual, a patent agency must be entrusted. Invention patents are subject to preliminary examination and substantive examination, and utility models and designs are authorized to be announced only after preliminary examination.

Legal basis: Patent Law of People's Republic of China (PRC) Article 1 This Law is formulated for the purpose of protecting the legitimate rights and interests of patentees, encouraging inventions and creations, promoting the application of inventions and creations, improving innovation ability, and promoting scientific and technological progress and economic and social development.