Invention, utility model and design — and how the PCT route reaches China.
China offers three patent types. Choosing the right one affects cost, speed and the strength of protection.
20-year term. Goes through substantive examination (novelty, inventiveness, usefulness) — typically 1–3 years. Best for core technology. Agency fee USD 1,500–2,000.
10-year term. Only a formal (preliminary) examination — no substantive exam, so it grants faster (about 6–12 months) and is cheaper. Good for incremental mechanical/structural improvements. Agency fee USD 500–700.
15-year term (no renewal). Protects ornamental design. Formal exam only. Agency fee USD 200–300. For multi-country design protection, the Hague Agreement is an option.
If you filed a patent application abroad, you can enter the Chinese national phase via the PCT within 30 months from the earliest priority date. We handle the China filing, translation and CNIPA formalities. Agency fee USD 1,800–2,500 (translation billed at USD 0.10/word).
Many clients file an invention for the core claim and a utility model alongside it for faster, overlapping protection.
No — PCT is international; entering China is a separate national-phase step we manage.