Patents - General Information

  • You can claim priority according to Paris Convention within: 12 months from the first filing date.
  • Member of: PCT, Paris Convention.
  • Period of protection of a patent: 20 years.
  • Time to pay publication fees after grant (acceptance): no time restrictions.
  • Time to pay registration fees after publication: no time restrictions.
  • Annuities: the taxes have to be paid annually on each anniversary of the patent, or within its grace period of 6 months. Non‐payment of this annuity tax may result in the lapsing “ipso jure” of the patent. In the case of PCT applications, the first three annuity taxes (considering the international filing date) have to be paid at the moment of entering the national phase. In general, the annuity taxes may be paid in advance.