1, with different performance. Invention patents are novel, creative and practical. The creativity and technical level of utility model are lower than that of invention patent, but it has great practical value;
2. The objects of protection are different. An invention patent protects an improved product, method or new technical scheme. The utility model patent only protects the shape, structure or combination of products, and puts forward a new technical scheme suitable for practical use;
3. The approval procedures are different. According to the Patent Law, the examination and approval procedure of an application for a patent for invention includes five stages: acceptance, preliminary examination, announcement, actual examination and authorization. The application for a patent for utility model will not be published and examined in essence during the examination and approval process, and there are only three stages: acceptance, preliminary examination and authorization;
4. The review cycle is different. Generally, utility model patents can get patent certificates in about a month, and invention patents can get patent certificates in about a year and a half, because the technical fields of invention patents are relatively wide, and the review period of different technical fields is very different, and some technical fields may take 2-3 years or even longer;
5. The protection period is different. The term of invention patent right is 20 years, and the term of utility model patent right and design patent right is 10 years, counting from the date of application.