Applying for a patent

Patents protect the methods and processes that make things work. Your invention must relate to how something works, what it does, what it is made of, or how it is made.You need to think carefully about the following before applying for a patent for your product or process:

A patent applicant may be an individual or a corporate body, and persons (whether individuals or corporate bodies) can make joint applications.

Regardless of how original you think your invention is, a patent may already protect part or all of it. You can search a patent database to see if your idea is new. This service is not designed as a comprehensive patents search facility. Therefore, it should not be used to determine conclusively whether your idea can be patented.

We offer searches that find out if an invention is new. The searches are not part of the patent application process, but may help you decide if you should apply for a patent, or establish if you are free to sell your invention without infringing someone else's rights. A patentability search identifies any patents or other publications relevant to the novelty and inventiveness of your product or process.

When you submit the required documents and information including a completed application form, description, drawings, claims, abstract and other necessary files, the competent patent office will send you a receipt, within a period of time, confirming the date the office received your application and an application number.

After you apply, the patent office will:

The Patent Office will check your application against published patents and documents to check your invention is new and inventive. If your application meets the office's requirements, the application will be published just after 18 months from your filing or priority date.

You must request substantive examination within a given time limit. The office will examine your application and tell you if it meets the necessary requirements. If it does not the assigned examiner will tell you what you need to do and how long you have to do it. When your application meets the requirements, the patent office shall grant your patent, publish it in its final form and send you a certificate. After your patent has been granted, you may want to change the details we hold about it and you will need to renew it regularly to keep it in force.

A typical patent application takes 3 to 4 years to grant, the competent patent office may accelerate the procedure at the applicant’s request. You must meet requirements within the given time limits, or your application may be terminated. However, you may extend some time limits.