Availability and Names
Utility model applications may be prepared and filed at local patent offices in countries where utility model protection is available.
The table below is a list of countries having utility model protection under various names as at March 2008.
Country | Type of Protection | Maximum Term | PCT route available | Conversion from Patent Application |
Albania | utility model | 10 years | Yes | Yes |
Angola | utility model | no set term | No | No |
Argentina | utility model | 10 years | No | Yes |
ARIPO | utility model | 8 years | Yes | Yes |
Armenia | utility model | 10 years | Yes | Yes |
Aruba | small patent | 6 years | Yes via Netherlands | Yes |
Australia | innovation patent | 8 years | Not unless by division | Yes |
Austria | utility model | 10 years | Yes | Yes by division |
Azerbaijan | utility model | unknown | Yes | Yes |
Belarus | utility model | 8 years | Yes | unknown |
Belgium | short patent | 6 years | No | No |
Belize | utility model | 7 years | Yes | Yes |
Bolivia | utility model | 10 years | No | unknown |
Botswana | utility model | 7 years | Yes | unknown |
Brazil | utility model | 15 years | Yes | probably |
Bulgaria | utility model | 10 years | Yes | probably |
Chile | utility model | 10 years | No | unknown |
China | utility model patent | 10 years | Yes | unknown |
Colombia | utility model | 10 years | Yes | probably by division |
Costa Rica | utility model | 12 years | Yes | Yes |
Czech Republic | utility model | 10 years | Yes | Yes by division |
Denmark | utility model | 10 years | Yes | Yes by division |
Ecuador | utility model | 10 years | Yes | Yes by division |
Estonia | utility model | 8 years | Yes | Yes |
Ethiopia | utility model | 10 years | No | Yes |
Finland | utility model | 10 years | Yes | Yes |
France | utility model | 6 years | No | Yes |
Georgia | utility model | 8 years | Yes | Yes |
Germany | utility model | 10 years | Yes | Yes |
Ghana | utility model | 7 years | Yes | Yes |
Greece | utility model | 7 years | No | Yes |
Guatemala | utility model | 10 years | No | Yes |
Honduras | utility model | 15 years | Yes | unknown |
Hungary | utility model | 10 years | Yes | Yes |
Indonesia | Petty Patent/Simple Patent | 10 years | Yes | Yes |
Ireland | short term patent | 10 years | No | Yes |
Italy | utility model | 10 years | No | Yes |
Japan | utility model | 10 – 15 years | Yes | Yes |
Kazakhstan | utility model | 8 years | Yes | Yes |
Kenya | utility model | 10 years (From date of registration) | Yes | Yes |
Korea (south) | utility patent | 15 years | Yes | Yes |
Kuwait | utility model | 7 years | No | unknown |
Kyrgyzstan | utility model | unknown | Yes | unknown |
Laos | petty patent | 7 years | No | unknown |
Lesotho | utility model | 7 years | Yes | Yes |
Macau | utility model | unknown | No | unknown |
Malaysia | utility innovation | 15 years | Yes | No |
Mexico | utility model | 10 years | Yes | Yes. |
Moldova | utility model | unknown | Yes | probably |
Mozambique | utility model | unknown | Yes | probably |
Netherlands | short term patent (*) | 6 years | No | unknown |
Nicaragua | utility model | unknown | Yes | probably |
OAPI | utility model | 8 years | Yes | probably not |
Panama | utility model | 10 years | No | unknown |
Peru | utility model patent | 5 years | No | Yes |
Philippines | utility model | 7 years | Yes | Yes |
Poland | utility model | 10 years | Yes | Yes |
Portugal | utility model | no set term | Yes | unknown |
Russia | utility model | 13 years | Yes | Yes |
Sierra Leone | utility model | unknown | Yes | probably |
Slovakia | utility model | 10 years | Yes | Yes |
Slovenia | short term patent | 10 years | Yes | probably |
South Africa | functional design | 10 years | No | No |
Spain | utility model | 10 years | Yes | Yes |
Taiwan | utility model | 10–12 years | No | Yes |
Tajikistan | utility model | 9 years | Yes | probably |
Tangier Zone | utility model | 10 years | No | unknown |
Tonga | utility model | 7 years | No | No |
Trinidad and Tobago | utility certificate | 10 years | Yes | unknown |
Turkey | utility model | 10 years | Yes | Yes |
Uganda | utility certificate | 7 years | No | Yes |
Ukraine | utility model | 8 years | Yes | Yes |
United Arab Emirates | utility model | 10 years | Yes | unknown |
Uruguay | utility model patent | 10 years | No | Yes |
Uzbekistan | utility model | 8 years | Yes | probably |
Venezuela | utility model | 10 years | No | Yes |
Vietnam | utility model | 6 years | Yes | Yes |
(*) The Dutch short-term patent is no longer granted since June 5, 2008.
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