Patents

If several people apply for a patent for the same invention, the person who has the earliest filing date for the application will be entitled to the patent. The filing date may therefore be important in some cases.

If you have applied for a patent for an invention in one country, you may claim priority in other countries where others have applied for the same invention. This right is valid for 12 months from the date the application was filed in the first country - the priority date.

Priority means that the applicant takes precedence over others who have applied for a patent for the same invention after the priority date. It also means that the question of whether the invention is new and has so-called "inventive step" will be examined based on the situation on the priority day, also in later applications.

Read more about the right of priority on the page Applying for a patent in several countries

Trademarks

If you have applied for trademark registration in one country, you may claim priority in other countries where you wish to protect the same trademark. The right is valid for six months from the date the application was filed in the first country - the priority date.

Priority means that the applicant takes precedence over others who have applied for registration of a similar or identical trademark after the priority date.

Designs

If you have applied for design protection in one country, you may claim priority in other countries where you wish to protect the same design. The right is valid for six months from the date the application was filed in the first country - the priority date.

Priority means that the applicant takes precedence over others who have applied for design protection for the same design after the priority day. It also means that the question of whether the design is new and differs significantly from previously known designs, will be judged on the situation on the priority day, also in later applications.