a/ Before the NOIP issues a notice of its refusal to grant a protection title or a decision on the grant of a protection title,an invention registration applicant may convert the application for an invention patent into one for a utility solution patent or vice versa according to the provisions of Point e,Clause 1,Article 115 of the Intellectual Property Law,if the applicant pays a prescribed application conversion fee.
b/ After receiving a valid request for application conversion,the NOIP shall continue carrying out the procedures for processing the converted application according to relevant provisions but shall not carry out again the procedures already completed for the application before the conversion request is
made.
c/ Requests for application conversion made after the time limit specified at Point 17.3.a above shall not be considered. Applicants may file new applications bearing the filing dates (dates of priority,if any) of parent applications.
