Patents service level commitments
Patent Product Quality Commitments
Patent Product Quality Standards Tier 1
Product Quality Standards that relate to matters which would adversely affect (or have the potential to affect) the validity of the IP Right.
- Correct search procedure is adopted for all searches
- All relevant objections/considerations which would adversely affect (or have the potential to affect) the validity of the patent are taken
Acceptable Quality Level
93.5% of cases conforming to the Product Quality Standard
Patent Product Quality Standards Tier 2
Product Quality Standards that relate to matters which would require a considerable amount of rework and/or inconvenience to the applicant or IP Australia.
- All other objections/considerations are taken
- The report/opinion is free of clearly invalid objections/considerations
- Reports and opinions are comprehensive and informative
Acceptable Quality Level
90% of cases conforming to the Product Quality Standard
Patent Product Quality Standards Tier 3
Product Quality Standards that relate to matters which are important in terms of overall perception of the quality of the product.
- Search results are correctly communicated
- Written formalities are complete and correct
Acceptable Quality Level
85% of cases conforming to the Product Quality Standard
Patent Service Level Commitment
Patent Registration and Examination Standard
- We examine and issue first reports on applications for standard patents within 12 months of receiving the request for examination.
- We will examine and issue a report on your innovation patent within 6 weeks of receiving the request for examination or the patent being sealed.
- We will issue international search reports for patents within 10 weeks of receiving the search copy of the international application unless the application is for more than one invention.
- We will issue international-type search reports for patents within 6 weeks of receiving the request for the search, unless the search request covers more than one invention, or we ask you to supply a written search statement
- We will respond to correspondence relating to the examination of your application within 20 working days of receiving the correspondence.
- We will seal your patent within 4 weeks after the opposition period has expired, provided no one has opposed the application and any applicable fees have been paid.
- We will grant your innovation patent, provided you have paid the fee and complied with the formalities, within 4 weeks of the application being lodged.
Patent Hearing Standard
- We will issue our decision within 12 weeks of holding a hearing, unless we receive further submissions or evidence.
For our current compliance with these commitments, go to our Charter Reports.
More patents statistics are available at our IP Statistics page.
Last Updated: 10/12/2012
