Patents and utility models are technical industrial property rights that protect your commercially exploitable inventions. Topography protection, which is similar to a utility model, protects the layout of a microelectronic semi-conductor. Discoveries, scientific theories, mathe­matical methods, aesthetic creations, plans, rules and procedures for mental activities, for games or for business activities, programs for data processing systems (as such), medical or veterinary treatment methods, for example, are not subject to patent and utility model protection.

Patent

A granted patent protects your invention for up to 20 years, in exceptional cases even up to 25 years. An invention for which patent protection is sought is examined by the patent office in terms of novelty and inventive step, among other things.

Utility model

A registered utility model provides protection for up to 10 years. An invention for which utility model protection has been applied for is not examined in terms of its content, but only formally, and then registered. A substantive examination of the utility model only takes place at a later stage in proceedings before the patent office or a civil court.

Topography

A registered topography provides protection for up to 10 years. A three-dimensional structure of microelectronic semiconductor products (topography) for which topography protection has been applied is not examined in terms of content, but only formally and then registered. A substantive examination will only take place at a later stage in proceedings before the Patent Office or a civil court.

From the invention to technical IP rights

We advise you on the appropriate industrial property right for your needs and, in close consultation with you and your inventors, implement your technical idea in a patent or utility model application tailored to your economic and strategic requirements. We support you with our services tailored to your project – so that you can strengthen your innovative position in the competitive environment.

Protection of inventions domestic and abroad

With a few exceptions, industrial property rights, which also include patents and utility models, are granted at the national level. If you need protection for your technical ideas outside your home country, you must apply for protection in the respective country. To simplify the process, regional and international application procedures are available, along with some transnational IP systems. We assist you in identifying your territorial IP needs and advise you on a suitable filing strategy abroad. We can either conduct the corresponding filing procedures for you directly or we work with foreign representatives from our global network and coordinate the foreign procedures in close consultation with you.

IP management after registration

After a patent has been granted or a utility model registered, we monitor the due dates for the renewal of your IP rights and remind you of upcoming deadlines for fee payments and, if necessary, for a proof of use. We also take care of the payment process for you for the maintenance fees in Germany and abroad. You can use our IP management service to manage your IP portfolio.

As your external IP department, we not only manage your IP portfolio, but also unburden you from other related tasks, so that you can focus on your core business.