Patent protects the invention in any field of technology that is new, involves an inventive step and is susceptible of industrial application. The protection of the patent is valid up to twenty years. Compared to trademarks, invention requires high financial investment — not only the registration procedure, but also the maintenance – especially of a European Patent or an international patent (PCT) — from the patentee. However, only the patentee will be entitled to exploit the solution of the invention or grant licence.
Patent protection is often confused with ’idea’ and I often get the request to protect the idea as a patent. We shall separate from inventions – thus they cannot be patented – the following:
discoveries, scientific theories, and mathematical methods,
aesthetic creations,
schemes, rules and methods for performing mental acts, playing games or doing business, and programs for computers,
presentations of information.
We shall also clarify that ’worldwide patent protection’ does not exist. We can obtain patent protection by national or European application or in the framework of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).
Lastly, it shall also be considered whether it is worthwhile to protect the invention as a patent. In some cases, it is not justified as the protection expires after twenty years and the solution will be accessible for the public.
Our office provides the following services:
Legal advice and development of strategy: evaluation of the advantages and disadvantages of the patent protection
Novelty search and filing patent application with help of a patent attorney
Entering national phase within the PCT
Validation of the European Patent in Hungary
Management of patent portfolios
Payment of maintenance fees
Preparation of patent license agreement.