In a Swiss examination procedure, the first step of the registration procedure covers the formal examination of the patent application. Subsequently in the substantial examination the authority examines, if the patent application complies with the requirements according to Articles 1, 1a and 2 of the LPI (technical teaching, invention applicable in industry, sufficient disclosure, unity and clarity. If all conditions for the grant of a patent are met, a patent is granted. Grant of the patent is registered it in the Patent Register and published. The applicant receives a patent certificate.
The formal steps for the registration procedure according to the EPC are comparable with those of the Swiss procedure, whereby after passing the formal examination the European search report is established. The search report is published afterwards together with the patent application. Contrary to the Swiss registration procedure the criteria "novelty" and "inventive step" are substantially examined during the registration procedure. After the publication of the grant of the European patent in the European Patent Bulletin, the registration in the applicable national registers is carried out.