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(1) Prior to the grant or refusal of a patent, an applicant for a patent may, upon payment of the prescribed fee, convert the applicant's application into an application for a utility model certificate, which shall be accorded the filing date of the initial application.

(2) Prior to the grant or refusal of a utility model certificate, an applicant for a utility model certificate may, upon payment of the prescribed fee, convert the applicant's application into a patent application, which shall be accorded the filing date of the initial application.

(3) An application may not be converted under subsection (1) more than once.