What is the patent application process in the UK?

1, filing a patent application: filing a patent application with the European Patent Office. The language is (English, French, German). The contents of the patent application documents are consistent with those of China patent application documents, including: description, claims, abstract and abstract drawings. Those who apply through the Paris Convention shall apply to Europe within 12 months from the date of application in China, claim the priority of China, and submit the certificate of priority.

2. Search by the European Patent Office: The European Patent Office will generally search the existing technical documents related to the patentability of the application, and notify the European patent lawyers of the search results after the search. When the patent applicant receives this retrieval report, it is usually necessary to evaluate the patentability and the possibility of authorization of the invention according to the retrieval content.

3. Publication of patent application: The European Patent Office will publish the results of patent application within 18 months from the date of application, and an off-line search report will be made before publication, so that the applicant can choose whether to continue to apply.

4. Request for substantive examination: The applicant shall make a request for substantive examination at the time of application or within 6 months from the date of publication of the retrieval report of the European Patent Office, and at the same time, it is necessary to designate specific member States and pay fixed fees and examination fees. After the substantive examination is put forward, it enters the actual examination procedure, and usually receives the examination opinions of the European Special Bureau within 1 ~ 3 years after the actual examination is put forward.