The preliminary examination and substantive examination of the confidential patent application shall be conducted by the examiner designated by the China National Intellectual Property Administration Patent Office. The preliminary examination shall be conducted on the same basis as the general invention patent application. Confidential patent applications that have passed preliminary examination shall not be published. If there is a request for substantive examination and the substantive examination fee is paid, it will directly enter the substantive examination procedure.
The substantive examination shall be conducted on the same basis as the general invention patent application. If the reasons for rejection are not found after substantive examination, a notice of granting the patent right shall be made, and the confidential examiner shall notify the applicant to go through the patent registration formalities.
The authorization announcement of confidential patent application only publishes the patent classification number, patent number, patent application date and authorization announcement date.