Article 29 of the Patent Law Where an applicant applies for a patent for an invention or utility model for the first time in a foreign country within twelve months, or for a design for the first time in a foreign country within six months, and applies for a patent for the same subject in China, he may enjoy the priority according to the agreement signed between the foreign country and China or the international treaties to which both countries are parties, or according to the principle of mutual recognition of priority. Applicants who file a patent application for invention or utility model for the first time in China within 12 months, or apply for a patent for design for the first time in China within 6 months may enjoy priority.