What is Intellectual Property? > Patents > Application Process

Application Process

Applying for a standard patent

A standard patent application in Hong Kong, China is made in two stages by filing:

• a request to record a designated patent application (stage 1)
  
• a request for registration and grant (stage 2).

Request to record (stage 1) - when should you file?

You need to file a request to record in Hong Kong, China within six months after the publication of the designated patent application in the designated patent office.

Request to record (stage 1) - examination

Upon receipt of your request form (Form P4), we will issue a receipt notifying you the alloted application number.

We will allot a filing date to your request to record when your request states the name of the applicant, refers to the designated patent application and includes the designated patent application number, its publication number and date of publication.

If we have given your request to record a filing date, we will examine your request and give you notice to correct any deficiencies within two months.

Request to record (stage 1) - publication

If there is no deficiency or the deficiencies are corrected we will publish your request to record and advertise it in the Hong Kong Intellectual Property Journal (http://www.ipd.gov.hk/eng/ip_journal.htm).

You can click here to view the flowchart of the examination and publication process.

Request for registration and grant (stage 2) - when should you file?

You need to file a request for registration and grant in Hong Kong, China at the latest within six months after publication of the request to record in Hong Kong, China, or the grant of the designated patent by the designated patent office.

Request for registration and grant (stage 2) - examination

We will allot a filing date to your request for registration and grant when your request identifies the applicant, refers to the designated patent and includes the publication number of the request to record, the publication number of the designated patent and its date of publication.

If we have given your request for registration and grant a filing date, we will examine your request and give you notice to correct any deficiencies within two months.

Request for registration and grant (stage 2) - grant and publication

If there is no deficiency or the deficiencies are corrected we will register the designated patent and grant a standard patent for the invention. We will publish details of the granted patent and advertise the grant in the Hong Kong Intellectual Property Journal (http://www.ipd.gov.hk/eng/ip_journal.htm).

You can click here to view the flowchart of the examination, grant and publication process.

Applying for a short-term patent

Short-term patent application - examination

Upon receipt of your request form (Form P6), we will issue a receipt notifying you the alloted application number.

We will give your short-term patent application a filing date when it states the name of the applicant and describes the invention.

If we have given your application a filing date, we will examine your application and give you notice to correct any deficiencies within two months.

Short-term patent application - grant and publication

If there is no deficiency or the deficiencies are corrected we will grant a short-term patent for the invention. We will publish details of the granted patent and advertise the grant in the Hong Kong Intellectual Property Journal (http://www.ipd.gov.hk/eng/ip_journal.htm).

You can click here to view the flowchart of the examination, grant and publication process.