How many stages does the examination of invention patents go through?
Compared with the examination process of utility model patents and design patents, the examination process of invention patents is a little more complicated, with two more stages: the publication stage and the actual examination stage. It takes a long time from submission of materials to authorization, and it usually takes two to three years to get the authorization certificate. 1. At the acceptance stage, the Patent Office will examine the invention patent application in Kunming after receiving it. If the conditions for acceptance are met, the Patent Office shall determine the date of application, give the application number, and after checking the list of documents, issue an acceptance notice to inform the applicant. 2. The patent application accepted in the preliminary examination stage will automatically enter the preliminary examination stage if the application fee is paid in accordance with the regulations. Before the preliminary examination, the application for a patent for invention must be examined in confidentiality, and if confidentiality is required, it shall be handled in accordance with the confidentiality procedures. 3. Publication stage The application for a patent for invention has entered the publication stage since the notice of preliminary examination was issued. If the applicant does not make a request for publicity in advance, it will not enter the public preparation procedure until 15 months after the application date. 4. After the publication of the application for a patent for invention in the substantive examination stage, if the applicant puts forward a request for substantive examination and it has taken effect, the applicant will enter the substantive examination procedure. Where an application for a patent for invention has not been submitted for trial within three years from the date of application, or the request for trial has not taken effect, the application shall be deemed to have been withdrawn. 5. In the authorization stage, if the application for a patent for invention is not found to be rejected after substantive examination, the examiner shall make a notice of authorization and apply for authorization registration. The patent office examines the legal effect and completeness of the authorized text, proofreads and modifies the description items of the patent application, and then issues the authorization notice and registration notice. After receiving the notice, the applicant shall go through the registration formalities and pay the prescribed fees within 2 months according to the requirements of the notice. If the registration formalities are completed on schedule, the Patent Office will grant the patent right, issue a patent certificate, record it in the patent register, and announce it in the patent bulletin three months later. Failure to go through the registration formalities as required shall be regarded as giving up the right to obtain the patent right.