Macao

 

 

In Macao, a patent or utility model application can be filed.

 

In the application procedure, the Industrial Property Gazette publishes a notice disclosing that the application was filed, together with an abstract, with the National Industrial Property Institute.  The applicant is granted protection on a temporary basis after the patent is registered.  Once the description and drawings have been delivered to the INPI, an examination of the application is undertaken, then a report from which is prepared within six months of the publication of the application.  A patent is granted or rejected based on the result of the examination.  If the examination is favorable, a notice will be published in the Intellectual Property Gazette to allow opposition to be filed by other party.  If there is no opposition or rejection of the patent, the patent will be granted.

 

The procedures for granting patents for utility models are the same as those for patents, with only differences in their unique features.

 

Patents last for 20 years from the filing date of the application.

 

Utility Models last for 6 years from the filing date of the application, which are extendable two times each with 2 additional years, so that the maximum duration of the registration is 10 years from the filing date of the application.