Patent & Innovation Support Services

A patent for an invention grants its holder an exclusive right, including the right to dispose of the invention and to prohibit third parties from using the patented product or technology. A patent provides a monopoly over the patented product.

Patent protection is granted for a limited period of time, usually 20 years from the filing date of the application. Patents are territorial rights. As a rule, exclusive rights apply only in the country or region where the patent has been filed and granted in accordance with the law of that country or region.

There are different ways to obtain patent protection depending on the desired geographical scope:
• National patent;
• European patent;
• International patent application.

Your innovation may be protected even if the invention does not meet all the requirements for patent registration. In such cases, a utility model can be registered. Utility model protection is sought for technical inventions that are not highly innovative but can be quickly brought to market. The registration of a utility model grants its holder exclusive rights to the invention for a limited period of time, usually 7 to 10 years from the filing date of the utility model application.

Our legal and technical services in the field of inventions and innovation include:

✓ Preparation of legal and technical opinions
✓ Novelty and inventive step research for inventions
✓ Drafting and management of the complete patent registration process
✓ Drafting and negotiation of licence agreements
✓ Assistance with applications under European innovation programmes