PROCEEDING

Once it has been submitted, the patent application shall be subject to a formal preliminary examination and if found in order, shall be recorded and the date of submission shall be the filing date.
Patent applications shall be kept secret for a period of 18 (eighteen) months as from the date of the filing or of earlier priority, if any, following which, they shall be published.
Examination shall not begin earlier than 60 (sixty) days after publication of the application.
Examination of a patent application shall be requested by the applicant or by any interested person, within 36 (thirty six) months as from the filing date, failing which the application shall be deemed withdrawn.
During the technical examination a search report and an opinion shall be prepared.
On conclusion of the examination, a decision to allow or deny the application shall be issued.
A patent shall be granted once the application is allowed and, after proof of payment of the corresponding fee is furnished, the respective patent certificate shall be issued.
The applicant and the patent owner shall be required to pay annual fees as from the beginning of the third year after the filing date.