Patents and Utility Models
When someone has an inventive idea, it may be a good idea to carry out a relatively economical cursory search to check the state of the art and have at least a rough idea whether the invention is new or sufficiently original (inventive). Although for cost purposes the research undertaken is not as thorough as that done at the Patent Office, this method often finds very similar or identical publications and eliminates the considerably higher expenses of a patent or utility model application. If it turns out that the idea is new, the cursory research provides a good starting point for formulating a patent application with significantly better chances of being granted.
Continued
In this case, an application draft - frequently with drawings - is worked out and sent to the client for a response. Once we have the client’s modifications and additions, they are incorporated into the application and the patent or utility model application is submitted at the German Patent and Utility Model Office. About 10 days later, we receive the confirmation of receipt from the Patent Office and can now freely talk about the technical contents of the application and offer the invention to customers or present it in a trade fair, for example.
After publication of the patent application or registration of the utility model, we monitor the industrial property rights to let the applicant know in due time about the possibilities of extension and their cost. The patents and utility models of the client’s competitors are continuously monitored on request, firstly to obtain information about their new developments and secondly not to miss the relatively short deadlines for submitting oppositions against such patents. Such oppositions against German or European patents are submitted, if applicable, to bring about the fall of the patent.