Petty patents and design patents

A petty patent suits an invention that is new and industrially applicable but does not involve a high inventive step, and it is granted without prior substantive examination, so rights arise faster. An invention patent suits more advanced technology where a long term matters. The choice should weigh the product life cycle against the risk that a competitor later challenges validity.

A petty patent runs for six years from the filing date in Thailand and may be renewed twice for two years each, giving a maximum of ten years. Renewal must be requested within the statutory window before expiry with the fees paid in full. A lapsed petty patent cannot be revived and the technology falls into the public domain.

It protects the shape or configuration of a product, or a composition of lines or colours giving a special visual appearance, where the design is new and intended for industrial use. The term is ten years from the filing date in Thailand. Drawings should show every view and be mutually consistent, since contradictory views are a frequent cause of office actions and delay.

Yes, and layering is usually the best value. The internal mechanism can go to an invention or petty patent, the external shape to a design patent, the name and logo to trademark registration, while manuals, graphics and software already enjoy copyright protection. Planning these together closes the gaps a competitor would otherwise copy.

An invention patent protects for twenty years from filing and requires novelty, an inventive step and industrial applicability, with substantive examination that takes years. A petty patent lasts six years, renewable twice by two years each for a maximum of ten, needs no inventive step, and registers far faster — suited to technical improvements in short product cycles.

The external shape or pattern applied to a product, where new, for ten years from filing. It does not protect function or technical principle. Public disclosure before filing destroys novelty, so file before launch or at least control disclosure with confidentiality agreements.

An invention patent requires novelty, an inventive step and industrial applicability, and lasts twenty years from the filing date, but it needs a request for substantive examination and takes considerably longer. A petty patent requires no inventive step, is granted faster because only formalities are examined, and lasts six years renewable twice for two years each. Petty patents suit incremental improvements with short product cycles; clear technical advances that need long protection justify an invention patent.

An invention patent covers something new, involving an inventive step and industrially applicable, lasting 20 years after substantive examination that can take several years. A petty patent covers a new and industrially applicable invention without requiring an inventive step, lasting 6 years and renewable twice for 2 years each. A design patent protects the appearance of a product for 10 years.

An invention patent requires a higher inventive step, undergoes substantive examination and lasts 20 years from filing. A petty patent has only formal examination, registers faster, and lasts 6 years renewable twice for 2 years each, up to 10 years. Short product cycles or modest technical improvements usually suit a petty patent.

The Paris Convention allows a priority claim within 12 months for inventions and 6 months for industrial designs. Under the PCT you file the international application within 12 months and generally have 30 or 31 months from the priority date to enter national phase. Budget and translations should be planned early, as national phase is the costliest stage.