What is a priority date?

Trade marks, designs and patents are registered on a first-come, first-served basis. When you first apply to register a trade mark, design or patent in a first country, you will be given a filing date for your application. You can then claim that filing date, called your priority date, when filing corresponding applications in other countries, as long as you file these within six months (within 12 months for a patent application).

Your priority date establishes the date of your claim to the IP right. If another party later files a claim to the same IP right, your priority date will give your application priority over theirs.