- 1. Invention: The patent has a term of 20 years from the date of filing.
Substantive examination should be requested within 3 years after the date of filing.
- 2. Utility Model: The patent has a term of 10 years from the date of filing.
Preliminary (formality) examination is for utility model patent.
- 3. Design: The patent has a term of 10 years from the date of registration
Preliminary (formality) examination is for design patent.
- 4. Trademark: The trademark registration is effective for a term of 10 years from the date of registration and may be renewed for further 10-year periods. (Every 10 years)
- ♣ Remark :
- 1. Once the patent is granted, annual fee must be paid year by year to prevent cancellation of the patent.
- 2. Patent and Trademark protection in Hong Kong and Macau are independent from China.


