Inventions, Patents and Utility models

A patent is a certificate that recognises the right to exclusively exploit, for a period no greater than twenty years, a new method, a new apparatus, a new product or a refinement or improvement of the above.

The exploitation right of the patented invention recognised the right to exclude third parties from the manufacture, use or introduction of the patented product or method in free trade.

The protection requirements of an invention patent are global novelty and inventive step.

The duration of an Invention Patent is twenty years as of the application filing date, the payment of annual fees being required as of granting in order for it to remain legally effective.

A utility model is a certificate that recognises the right to exclusively exploit, during a period no greater than ten years, an invention with a smaller inventive range than inventions protected by Invention Patents.

Specifically, it consists of giving an object a new configuration or structure from which a practical advantage or use. The scope of protection of a Utility Model is similar to that which is granted to an Invention Patent. The protection requirements of a Utility Model are novelty and inventive step.

The duration of a Utility Model is ten years as of the application filing date, the payment of annual fees being required as of granting in order for it to remain legally effective.