What is patent priority?

Legal analysis: The so-called "priority" means that the applicant can apply to other countries for the protection of the same subject within a certain period of time after filing an application for the first time in one country. In some respects, this application is deemed to be filed on the filing date of the first application.

Legal basis: Article 29 of the Patent Law of People's Republic of China (PRC). Where an applicant files a patent application for an invention or utility model in China within 12 months from the date when he first filed a patent application with a foreign country, or within 6 months from the date when he first filed an application for a patent for a design with a foreign country, he may enjoy the priority according to the agreement signed between the foreign country and China or the international treaties to which he is a party, or according to the principle of mutual recognition of priority. Applicants who file a patent application for invention or utility model for the first time in China within 12 months, or apply for a patent for design for the first time in China within 6 months may enjoy priority.