Utility Certificate

This is a short-term patent, limited to six years from its date of filing, subject to the same rules of patentability and thus of validity of the patent per se; it is delivered without requiring the search report procedure.

After its publication 18 months after filing, third parties may make observations to which a response may be deposited. If the utility certificate is invoked in an infringement procedure, the establishment of a search report may be required.