When the application is complete, it will be examined. The examination process usually takes six to twelve months, approximately. The application will be classified according to the type of article your industrial design is for. An examiner will review the application to make sure it complies with the Industrial Design Act and Industrial Design Regulations. The examiner will also conduct a prior art search to ensure that your design is not the same as or similar to another, previous design, and to determine whether the design has been published for more than one year.
If there are problems with your application, the examiner will issue a report and we as your lawyer or patent agent we will have an opportunity to respond. If the examiner is satisfied with their response, or if there are no problems with the application, then it will be approved. If the examiner’s concerns cannot be satisfied, the application will be rejected. We as your lawyers can appeal this decision.
