Countries IP system

French patent and trademark system

Invention patent

  • Patent term:
    20 years starting from filing date
  • Document required:
    Specification, drawings and power of attorney
  • Patent prosecution:
      1. Investigation Examination procedure
      2. Investigation must be brought to the attention of novelty within 18 months from filing date (Otherwise application will automatically switch to utility patent)
      3. Patent publication will take place 18 months after the filing date (priority date)
  • Maintenance fee:
    Annual payment from filing date
  • Related term:
    Invention patent can be switch to utility patent

Utility model patent

  • Patent term: 6 years starting from filing date
  • Document required:
    Specification, drawings and power of attorney (Document can be provide after application)
  • Patent prosecution:
    Register procedure (Novelty investigation is applicable)
  • Maintenance fee:
    Annual payment from filing date
  • Related term:
    Methods can also apply for utility patent

Design patent

  • Patent term:
    50 years starting from filing date
  • Document required:
    Specification, drawings and power of attorney
  • Patent prosecution:
    Register procedure
  • Maintenance fee:
    Payment made on the 25th year
  • Relative term:
    No certification will be received by choosing registration system

Trademark

  • Trademark term:
    10 years from register date, renewal for every 10 years term
  • Trademark type:
    Trademarks, service marks and group marks
  • Trademark format:
    Traditional (words, logos)
  • Document required:
    Words/logo, merchandise detail and power of attorney
  • Renewal term:
    Renewal before expires date.
  • Related term:
    「multi-class application」is applicable