Frequently Asked Questions

A patent, also known as Patent right, is a type of intellectual property that gives its applicant the exclusive right to own, use and disposal an invention creation for a designated period.

專利是專利權的簡稱，它是國家授予申請人在一定時間內對其發明創造成果所享有的獨佔、使用和處分的權利，是一種財產權。

Except as stipulated by relevant laws and regulations, any unit or individual user shall not execute an invention protected by a patent without the permission of the patent owner; it shall not be used for the purpose of production, operation, use, promise to sell, sale, import of product that is obtained directly from the technology or method as protected by an invention or utility model patent, or import of product which appearance is protected by a design patent.

專利權被授予後，除相關法例另有規定的以外，任何單位或者個人未經專利權人許可，都不得實施其專利，即不得為生產經營目的製造、使用、許諾銷售、銷售、進口依照發明和實用新型專利方法直接獲得產品、或進口外觀設計專利產品。

Novelty is a requirement for a patent claim to be patentable. In particular, novelty means that, before the date of filing of the patent application, no identical invention-creation has been publicly disclosed in publications or publicly used or made known to the public anywhere in the world. Furthermore, there should be no other earlier-filed applications, which describe the identical invention-creation. Otherwise, the invention-creation will be considered to have lost its novelty and cannot be granted the patent right.

新穎性，是指該發明或者實用新型不屬於現有技術；也沒有任何單位或者個人就同樣的發明或者實用新型在申請日以前提出過專利申請，並記載在申請日以後公佈的專利申請文件或者公告的專利檔中。

根據中國《專利法》，現有技術是指申請日以前在國內外為公眾所知的技術。

In some countries, such as the United States, a grace period exists for protecting an inventor or their successor in title from disclosure of the invention before the filing date. If the inventor or the successor in title publishes the invention, an application can still be validly filed which will be considered novel despite the publication, provided that the filing is made during the grace period following the publication. The grace period is usually 6 or 12 months.

In China, an invention-creation for which a patent is applied for does not lose its novelty where, within six months before the filing date, when one of the following events occurred:

(1) it was made public for the first time for the purpose of public interest in case of a national state of emergency or an extraordinary situation;

(2) it was exhibited for the first time at an international exhibition sponsored or recognized by the Chinese government;

(3) it was published for the first time at a prescribed academic conference or technical conference;

(4) it was disclosed by others without the consent of the applicant.

The grace period for China patent applications is relatively restrictive. Generally, it is recommended to publish the invention-creation after the China patent application is filed and accepted by the Patent Office.

在某些國家，例如美國，發明人或者專利申請權人在有效申請日之前就其發明公開發表，可以享有一個寬限期。如果這位發明人或者專利申請權人公開發表了這個技術發明的話，他還是可以就此申請專利而不喪失新穎性。世界上大多數國家的寬限期都是6個月或12個月。

中國專利申請只有在符合以下特定條件的情況，並為專利局核實並接受後，方可享有6個月的新穎性寬限期:

（一）在國家出現緊急狀態或者非常情況時，為公共利益目的首次公開的；

（二）在中國政府主辦或者承認的國際展覽會上首次展出的；

（三）在規定的學術會議或者技術會議上首次發表的；

（四）他人未經申請人同意而洩露其內容的。

由於中國專利申請較難享有新穎性寬限期，一般情況下，建議於中國專利申請提交並被專利局接受後，再進行技術發明的公開發表。

An invention is a new technical solution proposed as a product, method or improvement for existing technology.

There are two basic types of claims for invention patents, product claims and method claims. Product claims include things (products, equipment) produced by human technology, while method claims include activities with time-course elements, which can be further divided into methods and uses. Invention patents can also be improvements to existing products or methods.

Invention patents should be in possession of novelty, inventiveness, and practical applicability.

Novelty means an invention is not identical to any existing technology; for more about novelty please refer to: What is novelty? And why is it important to patent applications?

Inventiveness means that, as compared with the technology existing before the date of filing, the invention shows substantial features and notable progression.

Practical applicability means that the invention can be made or used and can produce effective results.

發明，是指對產品、方法或者其改進所提出的新的技術方案。

發明權利要求有兩種基本類型，分為產品權利要求和方法權利要求。產品權利要求包括人類技術生產的物（產品、設備），方法權利要求包括有時間過程要素的活動，又可以分成方法和用途兩種類型。發明專利也可以是對現有產品或方法的改進。

發明專利應當具備新穎性、創造性和實用性:

新穎性是指該發明不屬於現有技術; 詳細可參考: 新穎性是甚麼, 為什麼它對專利申請如此重要?；

創造性是指與申請日以前在國內外為公眾所知的技術相比，該發明具有突出的實質性特點和顯著的進步。

實用性是指該發明能夠製造或者使用，並且能夠產生積極效果。

An utility model means any new technical solution
relating to the shape, the structure, or their combination, of a product, which is fit for practical use.

The difference between a utility model and an invention are:

1) a Utility model must be a product with a certain space shape or structure; it cannot be a merely a method or solution, or a product without a tangible structure;

2) it demands a comparatively lower level of inventive step than those of invention patents;

3) there is no substantive examination on utility model patent applications.

實用新型是指對產品的形狀、構造或者其結合所提出的適於實用的新的技術方案。

實用新型與發明的不同之處在於：

第一, 實用新型限於具有一定形狀的產品，不能是一種方法，也不能是沒有固定形狀的產品；

第二, 對實用新型的創造性要求相比發明較低；

第三, 實用新型專利申請不需要進行實質審查。

Design refers to the appearance design solution of a product. Apart from invention or utility model patents, design patent is not a technical solution. Article 2 of “Patent Law of the People’s Republic of China” quotes: “Design means the overall or partial shape, pattern, or the combination thereof of a product, with the mixture of colours, shapes and patterns in an aesthetic way, which is fit for industrial application.”

Therefore, a design patent should meet the following requirements:

(1) a combination of shapes, patterns or their combination thereof, with the mixture of colours, shapes, and patterns;
(2) must be a appearance design solution for a product;
(3) must be a work of aesthetic value;
(4) must suitable for industrial applications;
(5) must be a new design.

外觀設計是指產品外觀的設計方案。

它與發明或實用新型完全不同，即外觀設計不是技術方案。中國《專利法》第二條中規定：“外觀設計，是指對產品的整體或局部的形狀、圖案或者其結合以及色彩與形狀、圖案的結合所做出的富有美感並適於工業應用的新設計。”

可見，外觀設計專利應當符合以下要求：

1. 是指形狀、圖案或者其結合以及色彩與形狀、圖案的結合的設計；
2. 必須是對產品的外觀所作的設計；
3. 必須富有美感；
4. 必須是適於工業上的應用;
5. 必須是新設計。

In short, inventions and utility models serves different purposes. Invention covers a wider range, including substances (without volume or form), objects (with certain volume and form), methods, biological materials and their applications; on the other hand, utility model only covers shapes, structures or combinations of objects.

The benefit of filing a China utility model patent is that the patent right could be granted within a few months. It is ideal for products that have a relatively short product life or have a relatively low technological hurdle (e.g., where competitors may easily reverse engineer and/or copy the technology within a short period of time). However, utility model patent does not go through substantive examination process, therefore its patent rights is relatively unstable compared to an invention patent.

On the other hand, a China invention patent provides a longer term of protection, which is suitable for products that require a longer period of development or product that would be valuable in long term. Especially for cutting-edge high-tech inventions in the pharmaceutical and biotech fields, as they usually require a lengthy research and development period for the product to be registered and permitted for sale. A China invention patent takes longer time to grant compared to a utility model patent, and is more costly.

In accordance with the “Patent Law of the People’s Republic of China”, the patent application and examination procedure includes five stages: filing, preliminary examination, publication, substantive examination and grant.

Both Invention, utility model and design patent applications are subject to the preliminary examination. Invention patents must pass a substantive examination prior to the grant. However, this is not required for utility model and design patents.
On average, it takes 2 to 3 years for an invention patent application to be granted, counting from entry of substantive examination; and two to six months g for a utility model application or a design application to be granted, counting form the filing date.

The patent term for an invention patent is up to 20 years, and up to 10 years for a utility model patent. The patent term for a design patent is up to 15 years.
Please refer to the website of China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) for detailed Chinese patent application and examination procedures. Link

依據中國《專利法》，專利申請的審批程序包括受理、初審、公佈、實審以及授權五個階段。

發明，實用新型或者外觀設計專利申請需要接受形式審查（也稱為初步審查、初審）。發明專利申請還需要通過實質審查(實審)。而實用新型或者外觀設計專利申請則沒有實審的要求。

發明專利申請由進入實質審查開始計算，平均需要二 至三年才能獲得授權；實用新型申請或外觀設計專利申請則是由申請交局日計起約二至六個月能獲得授權。

發明專利的專利保護期限最長為20年，實用新型專利的專利保護期限最長為10年，外觀設計專利的專利保護期限最長為 15 年。

詳細的中國專利申請及審查流程，可參考中國國家知識產權局網站：網址鏈接。

– Extension of Application of China Invention Patent

Application of invention patent from the China National intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) can be extended to the Macao SAR, according to paragraph 2 of article 131 and article 135 of the Industrial Property Code approved by Decree-Law no. 97/99/M on the 13th of December, and article 6 of the Notice of Chief Executive no. 25/2020 on the 26th of August.

The Flowchart of Application Process for Extension of Application of China Invention Patent: link

– Extension of Granted China Invention Patent

Invention patent granted by the China National intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) can be extended to the Macao SAR, according to paragraph 2 of article 131 and article 135 of the Industrial Property Code approved by Decree-Law no. 97/99/M on the 13th of December, and article 6 of the Notice of Chief Executive no. 25/2020 on the 26th of August.

The application could be submitted to the Economic and Technological Development Bureau within 3 months after the patent certificate issuance date. Since the patent granted has already undergone substantive examination by the China Patent Office, it does not need to undergo any examination during the extension process.

The Flowchart of Application Process for Extension of Granted China Invention Patent: link

Please refer to the Government Portal of Macao SAR for more detailed information. link

If you have such requirements, please inform Research Services and Knowledge Transfer Office immediately after receiving the patent certificate.

– 中國發明專利申請之延申

根據經12月13日 第97/99/M號法令核准的《工業產權法律制度》第131條第2款及第135條，結合8月26日第25/2020號行政長官公告第6條的規定，在中華人民共和國國家知識產權局的發明專利申請可延伸到澳門特別行政區生效。

中國發明專利申請之延申流程：網址鏈接。

– 已獲授權中國發明專利之延申

根據經12月13日 第97/99/M號法令核准的《工業產權法律制度》第131條第2款及第135條，結合8月26日第25/2020號行政長官公告第6條的規定，獲中華人民共和國國家知識產權局授予的發明專利可延伸到澳門特別行政區生效。

中國專利於國家知識產權局的《專利公報》公佈授予專利權通告後的3個月內，可向澳門特別行政區經濟及科技發展局提出將該專利延伸至澳門的申請。由於獲得國家知識產權局授權的發明專利已經過實質審查，其延伸至澳門特區時不需要再進行實質審查。

已獲授權中國發明專利之延申流程：網址鏈接。

更多詳情請可參見澳門特別行政區政府入口網站：網址鏈接。

如有相關需求請於收到專利授權通知後儘快聯絡研究服務及知識轉移辦公室。

The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) is an international patent law treaty. It provides a unified procedure for filing patent applications to protect inventions in its contracting states.

PCT is a way to facilitate applicants to obtain patents in numerous countries. A PCT application does not itself result in the grant of a patent, since there is no such thing as an “international patent”, patent rights cannot be obtained directly through the PCT.

The grant of patent is a prerogative of each national or regional authority. In other words, a PCT application, which establishes a filing date in all contracting states, must be followed up with the step of entering into national or regional phases to proceed towards grant of one or more patents.

Please refer to the website of the World Intellectual Property Organization for detailed information. Link

Patent Application Fees (for reference only)

專利申請費用（參考用）

The Prioritized Examination System for China Patent Applications was launched on August 1, 2017. This program expedites the process of Chinese patent applications. As per the “Measures on Prioritized Patent Examination Management” two types of patent applications qualify for prioritized examination:

1. Invention patent applications in the substantive examination stage.
2. Utility model and design patent applications.

Applicable circumstances for submitting Prioritized Examination Application:

1. Involving energy conservation and environmental protection, new generation information technology, biology, high-end equipment manufacturing, new energy, new material, new energy vehicle, intelligent manufacturing and other key national development industries;
2. Involving industries encouraged by the people’s governments at the provincial level and the city levels divided into districts;
3. Involving the internet, big data, cloud computing and other fields, and the technology or product update fast;
4. The patent applicant has prepared or begun to implement the invention/creation, or has evidence that another person is implementing the invention/creation;
5. The patent application for the same subject matter is first filed in China and the application was filed in another country or region;
6. Other matters of great significance to the national or public interests require prioritized examination.

If a Priority Examination Application is approved, the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) instructs the examiner to expedite the review of the patent application files. For Invention Patent applications, the initial Notice of Office Action will be provided within 45 days, and the case will conclude within one year. For Utility Model and Design Patent applications, the case will conclude within two months.

University personnel can consider submitting prioritized examination applications upon budget approval and meeting the requirements of patent application/technology transfer benefits.

中國專利的優先審查制度於2017年8月1日起施行，是一種中國專利申請程式的加速制度，根據《專利優先審查管理辦法》(2017)(局令第76號) 規定，以下的兩種專利申請況得以提交優先審查的申請:

1. 已進入實質審查階段的發明專利申請；
2. 實用新型和外觀設計專利申請；

提交優先審查申請的適用範圍：

1. 涉及節能環保丶新一代資訊技術丶生物丶高端裝備製造丶新能源丶新材料丶新能源汽車丶智能製造等國家重點發展產業；
2. 涉及各省級和設區的市級人民政府重點鼓勵的產業；
3. 涉及互聯網丶大數據丶雲計算等領域且技術或者產品更新速度快；
4. 專利申請人已經做好實施準備或者已經開始實施，或者有證據證明他人正在實施其發明創造；
5. 就相同主題首次在中國提出專利申請又向其他國家或者地區提出申請的該中國首次申請；
6. 其他對國家利益或者公共利益具有重大意義需要優先審查。

如優先審查申請獲得通過，中國國家知識產權局會指示該案件的審查員加快審閱專利申請檔，並保証發明專利申請可在四十五日內收到第一次審查意見通知書，並在一年內結案；實用新型和外觀設計專利申請在兩個月內結案。

在預算許可及符合專利申請/技術轉化利益的前題下，大學人員可考慮提交優先審查申請。

Starting July 1, 2023, permanent residents, companies, legal entities, or organizations in Macau SAR can apply for priority examination for China Patent applications through the Guangzhou and Shenzhen agencies of CNIPA. This pilot program aims to offer a convenient arrangement, utilizing Guangzhou and Shenzhen as submission points for priority examination. However, the pilot program does not establish new systems or pathways from the existing Prioritized Examination System. The pilot program solely accepts submissions for Priority Examination Applications of Invention Patents, and the time guarantee for case conclusion remains the same as the existing priority examination system.

自2023年7月1日起，澳門特別行政區永久性居民、依據澳門特區商法典設立的公司和澳門特區的其他法律實體或組織，可通過中國國家知識產權局專利局廣州代辦處和深圳代辦處提交相關申請材料，使符合相關條件的發明專利申請可在內地獲得優先審查。

試點項目的定位是一種新的便利安排，設置了廣州及深圳兩個代辦處作為優先審查的試點項目提交窗口，而優先審查本身並不是一個全新的制度，澳大在此前已具備優先審查的申請資格；需要注意的是，試點項目接受提交申請的類型限於發明專利一種，而試點項目和現有的優審制度所能提供的保證案件審結時間是一樣的。