---
title: "France: News on utility certificates"
description: The French utility certificates have gained renewed interest since the PACTE law of 2019.
---

[News ](https://www.jacobacci.com/en/news)

# [France: News on utility certificates](https://www.jacobacci.com/en/news/france-news-on-utility-certificates)

 Written by [David Devic](https://www.jacobacci.com/en/news/author/david-devic) | Feb 8, 2023 3:48:37 PM

> **The French utility certificates have gained renewed interest since the PACTE law of 2019.  
> **
> 
>  

> The French utility certificate has shown renewed interest since the PACTE law of 2019, for the protection of inventions on French territory.
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> The lifespan of the utility certificate in France is now **10 years from its filing date**.
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> Although subject to the same rules of patentability and therefore of validity as the patent, it is granted **without having been subject to the establishment of a preliminary report on patentability** (nor to the corresponding fee).
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> After its publication 18 months from the filing date, third parties may make observations to which a response may be filed.
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> If the utility certificate is invoked in infringement proceedings, the establishment of the preliminary report on patentability must be required before the French patent office (INPI).
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> **A patent application can be transformed into a utility certificate**, and this, until the start of the technical preparations for publication, generally occurring 16 months after the filing of the application.
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> Conversely, within the same period, **it is now possible to transform a utility certificate into a patent application**.
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> It is still possible to file a provisional patent application before INPI, which can be converted into a utility certificate within 12 months.

[View full post](https://www.jacobacci.com/en/news/france-news-on-utility-certificates)

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