The utility patent application process is application, preliminary examination, early disclosure, request for substantive examination, conduct substantive examination, and announcement.
1. Application
Prepare application materials, including application form, relevant documents and drawings, etc., and submit a patent application to the patent administration department.
2. Preliminary examination
The patent administration department shall conduct a preliminary examination of the application materials to check whether the materials are complete and meet the formal examination requirements.
3. Early disclosure
After passing the preliminary review, the patent administration department will publish the contents of the application in the Patent Gazette for the public to freely read.
4. Request for substantive examination
After a period of early disclosure, the applicant can request the patent administration department to conduct a substantive examination.
5. Conduct substantive examination
The patent administration department will conduct a substantive examination of the application, including technical examination and legal examination, to confirm whether the application complies with the provisions of the patent law.
6. Announcement
If the application passes the substantive examination, the patent administration department will make an announcement, issue a patent certificate, and register and announce it at the same time.