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.
The application and review flow chart for invention, utility model and design patents is as follows: Documents that need to be prepared:
(1) If applying for an invention patent, the application documents should include: invention Patent request, abstract of description (abstract and drawings shall be submitted if necessary), claims, and description (drawings of description and drawings shall be submitted if necessary).
(2) When applying for a utility model patent, the application documents shall include: a request for a utility model patent, an abstract of the description and its abstract drawings, claims, description, and drawings of the description.
(3) When applying for a design patent, the application documents should include: a design patent request, pictures or photos (if color protection is required, color pictures or photos should be submitted) and a brief description of the design illustrate.