The approval process of an application for a patent for invention includes: application →? Accept? →? Keep it secret. Are you sure? → classification →? First trial? → announce → Substantive review? →? Authorization and announcement.
Investigation before application. Go to China Patent Electronic Application Network and click on China Patent Inquiry System to verify whether your patent has been registered. Prepare all necessary materials and applications in advance.
Accept. The acceptance office of the preliminary examination department of the patent office, or the patent agency established by the patent offices of all provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government. Application documents that have not been registered by the above-mentioned acceptance departments are prohibited from entering the examination and approval procedures.
The confidentiality was confirmed. If the application documents involve national security or vital interests, they shall be examined and approved accordingly. If the application documents? Not involved? National security or vital interests, then: review and management in accordance with general procedures.
Classification. Patent office examiners will classify the application documents of inventions or utility models according to IPC, so as to facilitate the examiners to search and examine in different fields.
Preliminary review. After the acceptance, the application fee, surcharge and publishing and printing fee for the invention patent shall be paid in full, and the preliminary examination shall be started after the confidentiality examination is completed.
Announce. Publication refers to the publication of an application for a patent for invention that meets the formal conditions after preliminary examination before substantive examination. The purpose of publication is to enable the public to freely read and obtain relevant documents as soon as possible, supervise and assist the examination and approval of patent applications, and make the latest technology spread and use rapidly.
Substantive inspection. Determine whether the application for a patent for invention can be authorized, especially whether it meets the requirements of novelty, creativity and practicality.
Authorization and announcement. After passing the substantive examination, the Patent Office will also issue a notice of granting the patent right and a notice of handling the registration formalities. Applicants need to start from the date of receiving the notice? 2? Go through the patent registration formalities within months.
An application for a patent for an invention or utility model shall be limited to one invention or utility model. Two or more inventions or utility models belonging to a general inventive concept may be filed as one application.
An application for a patent for design shall be limited to one design. Two or more similar designs of the same product, or two or more designs of products used in the same category and sold or used in sets, may be filed as one application.
References:
China National Intellectual Property Administration official website? Regulations: People's Republic of China (PRC) Patent Law (revised in 2008)