Applying procedures 申请程序
A: I'm going to apply for a patent but I'm not sure how to prepare the application. Would you please help me? 我想申请专利，但不知道如何准备，你能帮我吗？
B: Sure, glad to help. First you need submit a request, a description and a claim. The description is particularly important. If necessary, it should be supported by drawings. 当然，很高兴能帮忙。首先，你需要提交一份申请书，一份说明书和一份要求书。说明书尤其重要，必要的话，说明书应配有插图。
A: How long shall I have to wait for the approval? 获得专利我要等多长时间？
B: Well, examination takes time. The Patent Office will announce the result and notify the application within 18 months. Even then you still don't get the patent certificate. 哦，专利审查需要时间。专利局会在18个月内公布结果，公告专利。即使到那时，您也拿不到专利证书。
A: Why? 为什么？
B: The Patent Office needs 90 days to wait for any possible opposition. Only when everything is OK will the patent be registered. 专利局还需要90天时间看看是否有异议。只有一切都没有问题时，专利方可注册。
A: I see. But I have another question. I don't know the reason why the duration of protection is only 15 years? 我明白了，我还有一个问题。我不知道专利的保护期为什么只有15年？
B: This is only for one of the patent rights. For invention the duration of protection is even shorter, only for 5 years protection. 只有一种专利权保护期限是15年，发明专利保护期限是15年。至于实用新型和外观设计专利，保护期更短，只有5年。
A: Does every country specify the same duration of protection? 每个国家规定的保护期限时候都一致？
B: No, 15-year protection is the minimum protection any country will grant its patentees. In some countries, the patent right duration for invention is 20 years. 不是，各国都对专利人给予了最低15年的专利保护。在一些国家，发明专利的保护期是20年。
A: What are the criteria for granting patent rights? 授予专利的标准是什么？
B: They are similar to those in other countries: novelty, inventiveness and praticability. 标准和别国相似，都要求具备新颖性，创造性和实用性。

1. utility models是实用新型的意思。
2. specify这里是规定的意思，例如：The directions specify how the medicine is to be used（说明书上规定了这药如何服用。）此外，specify还有明确说明的意思，例如：Do not include vat on the invoice unless specify. （发票上不要包括增值税，除非有明确说明。）
3. novelty, inventiveness and practicability是专利的三个特征，分别是新颖性，创造性和实用性。