When an inventor applies for an invention patent, it needs to be carried out in accordance with relevant legal regulations. Many inventors do not quite understand what the effectiveness of the substantive examination of the patent application status means? Don't know what to do next? We have compiled the following content to answer your questions. We hope it will be helpful to you. What does the effectiveness of substantive examination of patent application status mean? First, explain that your patent application is an invention patent application and has entered the second stage, that is, the substantive examination stage. Second, for invention patent applications, the Patent Office will issue at least one examination action notice and require a reply within a specified time limit. Third, if the Patent Office believes that your patent application meets the conditions for authorization, the substantive examination stage will end and the Patent Office will issue a document notifying you to register for authorization. Judging from the legal status, your patent application is probably still in the substantive examination process. How long does a patent substantive examination take? The time for a patent substantive examination is uncertain, generally 6-18 months. It depends on the content of the invention, the examiner's understanding of the invention, the examiner's work schedule, and the relationship between the examiner and the applicant or his agent. The time it takes for files to go back and forth between them. There is currently no fee for the patent examination process public service. An invention patent applicant may voluntarily propose amendments to the invention patent application when submitting a request for substantive examination and within three months from the date of receipt of the notification from the Patent Office that the invention patent application has entered the substantive examination stage. According to the Patent Law, the approval process for invention patent applications includes five stages: acceptance, preliminary examination, publication, substantive examination and authorization. Utility model or design patent applications do not undergo early publication and substantive examination during the approval process. There are only three stages: acceptance, preliminary examination and authorization. Relevant legal knowledge According to the provisions of Article 35 of the Patent Law, the Patent Office conducts substantive examination of invention patent applications. The purpose of substantive examination of an invention patent application is to determine whether the invention patent application should be granted a patent right, especially to determine whether it complies with the provisions of the Patent Law on novelty, inventiveness and practicality. According to the provisions of Article 35, Paragraph 1 of the Patent Law, the substantive examination procedure is usually initiated after the applicant files a request. According to the provisions of paragraph 2 of this Article, substantive examination procedures may also be initiated by the Patent Office. According to Article 39 of the Patent Law, if no reason for rejection is found after substantive examination of an invention patent application, the Patent Office shall make a decision to grant the invention patent right. According to the provisions of Article 38 of the Patent Law, during the substantive examination, after the applicant has stated his opinions or made modifications to the invention patent application, the Patent Office believes that it still does not comply with the provisions of the Patent Law, that is, it still falls within Article 50 of the Implementing Rules of the Patent Law. Any defect in the circumstances specified in Article 3 shall be rejected. According to Article 32 of the Patent Law, an applicant may withdraw its patent application at any time before the patent right is granted. Article 36, Paragraph 2 and Article 37 of the Patent Law and Article 42, Paragraph 2 of the Implementing Rules of the Patent Law also stipulate the circumstances in which a patent application is deemed to have been withdrawn during the substantive examination procedure. What does the effectiveness of substantive examination of patent application status mean? We have answered this question for you here. If you have more questions about patents, you can continue to pay attention to Bajie Intellectual Property, or contact us by phone.