From idea to patent
Of all the industrial property rights, the patent is the most traditional and most technical. Patent protection for products or processes is not easy to obtain but it can prove to be extremely valuable. Patents are the lifeblood of technological development, at the heart of every innovative engineering company – and therefore of huge economic significance.
Requirements for protection
A patent is granted for a technical invention when
(1) it is new compared to the state of the art
(2) it involves an inventive step
(3) it is industrially applicable.
State of the art is everything which has been made available to the public by means of written or oral description or by any other means. Examples of this are: patent publications, lectures, articles in specialist journals, published videos, social media posts, websites, trade fairs and exhibitions.
We offer you Novelty searches which entail searching through patent literature worldwide, enabling you to assess whether relevant patent applications, patents or utility models conflict with your invention. This makes it easier for you to weigh up the pros and cons of investing in a patent application – search first, invest later.
Key points at a glance:
- As a rule, the patent application document (A1) is published 18 months after the filing date.
- A request for examination for granting a patent can be submitted within seven years of the filing date.
- Patent protection can be applied for in other countries within one year of the filing date – priority claim.
- Annual fees are due from the third year after filing.
- For further information, go to: www.dpma.de
- Monitor your technical industrial property rights to ensure the security of your investments.
