German Acts  Trademark App  Contact  Imprint  Links

Attorney-at-Law Michael Horak, graduate engineer (Electrical Engineering), LL.M. (European Law)
 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 Overview  Practice  IP Law  Computer Law  Media Law  Advertising Law  Trademark Applications  Sample Texts  Attorneys Fees  Court Rulings

 

patents-trademarks-copyright-europe

a_beukenberg-rechtsanwalt-schild

ip-attorney-germany

patent-trademark-attorney-at-law

 

 

 

>Start >Overview >Practice >IP Law >Utility Model Law
 

>Start

What is a utility model?

A utility model is a registered right which confers on its proprietor exclusive protection for an invention, in a similar manner to a patent. In fact, utility models are sometimes referred to as "petty patents" or "innovation patents." In general, as with a patent, to be protected by a utility model, an invention must be new, involve an inventive step, and lend itself to industrial application. A utility model right can be obtained for example for electronic circuits, machines, chemical products, foodstuffs and pharmaceutical products.

What are the main differences between utility models and patents?

A utility model is an unsearched and unexamined intellectual property right, i.e. novelty and inventive step are usually not examined prior to registration. Moreover, the level of inventiveness required is generally lower than that for a patent.

The term of protection for utility models is shorter than for patents (a maximum of 10 years). Furthermore, utility models are much cheaper to obtain and maintain and the registration process is significantly simpler and faster since patent offices do not examine applications as to substance prior to registration. The state of art in respect to utility models is restricted as compared with the state of art in respect of patents.

What is the term of protection for utility models?

The maximum term of protection of utility models is 10 years provided that the utility model is maintained, i.e. the three renewal fees are paid to the Patent and Trademark Office.

What territorial protection does a utility model offer?

There is presently neither a world-wide nor a Community-wide utility model (since April 2003, however, there has been a Community design providing for a single Community design registration).

Not all countries and regions provide the option of utility model protection. For example, the UK and the Netherlands do not presently have a utility model system. In 2001, however, the European Commission and the European Parliament discussed an EC Directive that would harmonise the existing utility model systems.

Can an invention be made known to the public?

A valid German patent can generally not be obtained if the invention has been made known to the public, even by the inventor himself. As far as utility models are concerned, though, an invention may be disclosed under certain conditions and only by the inventor himself before the application is made (a so called novelty period of grace of 6 months).

How to obtain a utility model?

German utility models are obtained by filing an application for a utility model to the German Patent Office. There is a form available from the German Patent and Trademark Office (http://dpma.de). Apart from this form, which includes an application, so-called claims, a description and a summary in German should be handed in. For the purpose of a better description, drawings are usually included. When filing an application, which will be scanned by the Patent Office, you should pay attention to a number of formal requirements, e.g. that the description, the claims and the summary each start with a special form and should be marked with an appropriate title. Moreover, there is almost a patent language of its own, in which certain expressions are used for structuring the text, signalling consequences etc.: the patent claims often include the expression “characterised by…” followed by the description of the actual invention, whereas the state of technology is delineated prior to this including references to existing patents. The description is usually introduced with the expression “the invention concerns” and then the generic term of the main patent claim is described. This is followed by the description of the state of technology, possibly including references to existing patents. After the basic description of the state of technology, the disadvantages are presented. Then, the expression “the task of the invention is …” introduces the description of the task, presenting the solution and its advantages. This description of the main claim is followed by the descriptions of the subordinate claims, introduced by the expression “… is a special type of implementation of …” Finally, a sample implementation is explained in detail by means of drawings.

When defining the claims, and especially the main claim, the wording is very important. Basically, a general description is preferred, in order to prevent competitors from avoiding an infringement of a utility model by merely changing minor points. On the other hand, the wording of claims must not be too general as there is a risk that they might be ineffective, because such a claim usually does not only contain the description of the invention but also elements of state-of-the-art technology.

What is the procedure of granting a utility model?

On filing, an application is checked for obvious formal faults, e.g. if documents are lacking, etc. After that, according to the type of application, a research or examination procedure is started. In the research procedure the relevant documents are determined and sorted out, this does not, however, influence the protective right itself, since patent offices do not examine applications as to substance prior to registration.

The examination procedure ends when a test certificate is issued, or possibly with the refusal to grant a utility model. In case of granting a utility model, a utility model is published in the patent journal and entered in the registry of utility models.

How can action be taken against a utility model – opposition proceedings?

Contrary to patents, there are no time-limited opposition proceedings in respect of utility models. Everyone can, however, oppose a utility model by filing a nullity suit. In the examination proceedings, which follow such a suit, novelty and inventive step are examined.

What do we need to register your invention?

Usually we need an outline, a description and possibly a model. In some cases, we need further details which we cannot state specifically since they depend on the complexity of the given object.

In the initial phase, in which we plan further proceedings, we only need general information on the area in question (electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, chemistry, etc.) so that our expert in charge can contact you and settle further details with you, including an estimation of costs.

 

Trademark law trademark rights trademark trademarks trademark protection likelihood of confusion danger of confusion the need to keep a mark free for the trade distinctiveness Community trademark Community trademarks IR-trademark European trademark EU-trademark symbol mark trade name trademark attorney trademark Hanover Stuttgart Frankfurt Munich trademark registration at the DPMA German Patent and Trademark Office at the OHIM and at the WIPO title of a work title protection firm company protection company logo legal dispute jurisdiction period of protection protective rights industrial property protection notorious registered application processing nullity procedure application procedure lawyer before the Patent Office in Munich for clients in Germany Europe and worldwide attorney-at-law trademark law name protection trademark act concerning trademark law entering of a trademark in the trademark register owner of a trademark trademark registration Madrid Agreement Protocol to Madrid Agreement trademark agreement trademark office German Patent and Trademark Office ohim habm WIPO horak attorney attorney-at-law Hanover Community Trade Mark Registration colour-trademark word mark picture mark word-picture mark trademark brand Trade Mark Law trademark trademarks law office attorney Hanover priority business designation infringement claim intellectual property nullity industrial property protection IP law law patent Patents patent protection patent search mark search name company Trade Mark Domain TLD domain name protection copyright author right computer law software law design secret know-how publicity advertising law on competition discount allowance cartel law cartel internet online law internet law licence licences Hanover inventor founder media telecommunication TKG consumer EU Europe Hanover Lower Saxony registration right lawyer patent attorney attorney-at-law lawyer contract counselling law office society franchising right of sale media law TV law foodstuffs law concerning foodstuffs pharmaceutical products German Patent Office European Patent electrical engineering GRUR IBA IEEE VDE VBP EWiV EAK UWG Trademark Act Patent Act GWB Act on Discounts non-disclosure contract agreement Hanover attorney-at-law attorney ATTORNEY contract standard sales contract counsellor agreement lawyer trademarks collective registration trade mark attorney-at-law lawyer brand branding trademark design logo trademark sign confusion trademark adovocat trademark law implementing regulation trademark costs employment law warning notice internet internet law online law Reginal Court Landesgericht LG Stuttgart job offer jobs advertising agency Regional Court LG Muenster domain law domain domain-grabbing domain lawyer URL Web design Web hosting Regional Court LG Munich LG Berlin LG Regional Court Duesseldorf LG Regional Court Essen LG Gelsenkirchen CD-Rom development portfolio trademark agent trademark agency production comic right computer law graphics law concept corporate design corporate identity design law electronic publishing electronic media project print advert advertising law logo project of a logo flyer drafting questionnaires business printed paper LG Osanbrueck LG Gelsenkirchen Wennigsen Laatzen Langenhagen Hybride Production Internet-presentation internet presence Higher Court LG Essen internet-service campaign classic advert Lower Saxony nds communication law communication agency layout logo new media trademark law trademark act trademark implementing regulation protectable signs application area protected marks and other signs requirements contents and grounds for refusal and business symbols transfer of licences and trademarks marks business symbols; precedence seniority of a trademark as a trademark protectable signs trademark protection precedence seniority of a trademark requirements fort he protection of a trademark to enter in a register ownership grounds for refusal registered trademarks entered into the registry relative well-known earlier mark the scope of protection infringement exclusive right of the owner of a mark; statement of claim exclusive right of the owner claim for nonfeasance; statement of claim representation of a registered trademark claims against agents or other representing parties information claim protection limitation statute of limitations forfeiture of a right forfeiture of rights binding effect of trademark registration use of names and descriptive data spare parts shop exhaustion forfeiture of rights due to the insufficient use of a trademark trademark use trademark transfer of a right legal ownership; deliveries to the owner physical rights compulsory enforcement; bankruptcy proceedings licences registered trademarks registration procedure registration requirements day of registration; registration claim; publication of registration foreign priority examination examination of grounds for refusal absolute grounds for accelerated patent examination withdrawal of the application modification of an application correction of an application registration objection objection of nullity insufficient use of a trademark decision on objection correction; division; duration of protection prolongation modification register publication duration of protection prolongation relinquishment expiration and nullity; nullity proceedings expiration nullity due to absolute grounds for refusal nullity due to existence of older rights effects of nullity due to expiration or nullity cancellation by the Patent Office due to expiration cancellation procedures before the Patent Office on absolute grounds for refusal cancellation procedures before ordinary courts general rules concerning proceedings before the Patent Office jurisdiction Patent Office justification objection expert opinion court hearing investigation; hearings; wording decisions; communication of the possibility of appeal access to the files; access to the register proceedings costs and charges recollection proceedings before the Patent Office appeal; proceedings in open court participation of the president of the Patent Office oral debate decision on objection costs of the objection proceedings; preparation of an oral debate taking of evidence wording judicial finding of fact; legal hearing delivery of the decision; delivery; justification correction representation; power of attorney application of further regulations; invalidity; access to the files proceedings before the Patent Office legal complaint correction of the complaint; grounds for complaint more participants application of further regulations decision on legal complaint award of costs common regulations duty to tell the truth official language und deliveries legal assistance collective trademarks ownership registrability of geographical indications of origin as collective trademarks limitations of protection; use right to sue; recompense for damage regulation governing use of the marks lawyer attorney-at-law music music law lawyer copyright record contract producer contract collecting society collecting societies gema society for musical performing and mechanical reproduction rights gvl society for exploitation of ancillary copyrights contract law publisher’s contract publishing contract artist contract name law right to use a name legal counseling electronic music music examination of the application Änderung der Markensatzung Verfall nullity wegen absoluter Schutzhindernisse Schutz von Marken nach dem Madrider Markenabkommen und nach dem Protokoll zum Madrider Markenabkommen; Community trademarks protection of trademarks according to dem Madrider Markenabkommen application of rules of this act IR application costs entry in the register subsequent extension of protection effect of international registration absolute grounds for refusal of protection examination of the absolute grounds for refusal objection subsequent refusal to protection objection and application for cancellation on grounds of an internationally registered trademark exclusion from rights due to lack of utilisation of transferred trademarks with international registration trademark protection according to the protocol of the madrid trademark agreement application law on competition lawyer law Hanover regulation of this act IR-application fees note for the file; entry in the register subsequent extension of protection Adequate application of the regulations regarding the effect of According to the Madrid Agreement concerning the International Registration of Marks Trademark Agreement internationally registered marks transformance of an international registration Community trademarks application of Community trademarks at the Patent Office application of these regulations subsequent trademark subsequently declared void transformation of community trademarks community trademark courts; community trademark litigation informing the comission territorial jurisdiction of the community trademark courts insolvency procedure geographical indications of origin indications of origin protection of indications of origin names protected as geographical indications of origin data or signs scope of protection; claim for damages expiration protection geographical indications of origin according to the regulation (EWG) Nr 2081/92 application for the registration of a geographical indication of origin Application for altering specifications opposition proceedings responsibilities within the patent office jurisdiction; appeal monitoring right to forbearance; claim for damages expiration authorisation to create regulations protection of individual geographical indications of origin other regulations relating to the procedure of application and objection according to the regulation (EWG) Nr 2081/92 rules regulating the application of the directive (EWG) Nr 2081/92 penal regulations fine regulations seizure at import and export penal regulations fine regulations punishable infringement of statement of invention punishable use of geographical indication of origin fine regulations seizure of goods at import and export seizure on infringement of rights an invention Withdrawal; Objection; repeal of seizure Responsibilities claim for damages appeal claim for damages unjustified seizure seizure according to directive (EG) Nr. 3295/94 seizure due to unlawful marking with geographical indications of origin preliminary regulations application of this act limits for assertation of infringement claims rights in rem; compulsory enforcement of judgement insolvency procedure licenses examination of registered trademarks for absolute grounds for refusal of protection publication and registration proceedings of interference registration duration and prolongation of protection cancellation of a registered trademark due to expiration cancellation of a registered trademark on absolute grounds for refusal cancellation lawyer law advice email online counselling lawyer lawyers lawyer search lawyer law legal advice legal counselling lawyer search attorney-at-law lawyer specialised lawyer specialised lawyers specialized lawyer search service lawyer directory of lawyers attorney lawyer act acts rulings judgement judgement jurisdiction advice counselling legal advice help information law legal information legal counsel legal help lawyer’s hotline telephone 0190 service service number telerat telephone information service telephone counselling telephone instant counselling direktrat discount-broking direct counselling telephone lawyer telephone legal advice court law office law offices domain domain law internet internet law names right to a name trademark trademarks claim sue higher regional court oberlandesgericht olg Software patents patents patent protection patent registration infringement of a patent patent attorney patent law office Patent Office Patent Act European Patent Convention European Patent Community patent convention litigation litigation protocol trademark infringement filing a trademark registration EU-trademark IR-trademark OHIM EPO European Patent Office German Patent and Trademark Office design Community designs standard Trademark Act trademark guideline IT Internet Intranet IT law Internet-law media law net law computer law databank databank protection data protection design law design protection data protection law domain name liability Domains domain law trademark law online contracts telecommunication copyright provider agreement project contract software protection software law software licences licences ICANN-proceedings WIPO OMPI domain name dispute resolution domain name arbitration ASP law office attorneys joint practice lawyers co-partnership specialised lawyer OLG Munich licensing contracts media services teleservices e-commerce electronic-commerce electronic signature Signature Act surrender information rights to use online-right to representation online rights of use web design e-commerce-guideline tele-shopping Long Distance Sales Act new media multimedia ICANN internet law legal counselling agreements law of contracts drafting of contracts e-business representation law on competition provider trademark law trademark infringement warning notice interim injunction: Trademark Act industrial property protection infringement of a trademark warning notice title title protection right to a name trademarks registered trademarks used trademarks known trademarks company symbols firm lawyer multimedia trademark trademarks competition warning notice company symbols HTML law attorney-at-law trademark trademark law infringement of a trademark right to a name warning notice interim injunction word mark picture mark domain names trademark slogan ad trademark branding mark communication advertising vehicle advertising medium branches target groups competence Internet web design package design direct marketing media design agency advertising agency flyer leaflets Corporate Design business reports business papers commercial papers business equipment visiting cards package design presentation Multimedia radio spots TV-Spots posters advertising measures advertising novelty radio ad new media e-commerce full service agency lawyer lawyers collection attorney attorneys counsellor counsellors trademark patent collections patents trademarks law office law offices solicitor solicitors barrister barristers counsel law firm law firms lawyer attorney-at-law avocat avocats advokatur abogado abogados bufete de abogados despacho de abogados estudio jurídico estudio jurídico patent peru trademark attorney attorneys lawyer lawyers investments collection counsel counsellor counsellors solicitor solicitors barrister barristers civil law commercial law collections patents trademarks investment law office law offices law firm law firms attorney-at-law law office abogado avocat abogados avocats bureau d'avocats estudio juridico bufete de abogados avvocato competition law competition Act on Discounts Trademark Act attorney-at-law lawyers Long Distance Sales Act long distance sales fax advertisement law of obligations telephone advertisement customer loyalty cards clubs miles copyright patent law legal counselling company protection copyright law economic law attorney-at-law lawyer law on competition copyright law trademark law Act on Discounts regulation governing free gifts regulation governing indication of prices general terms and conditions of trade AGB lawyer attorney-at-law court proceedings law advertising agency copyright law of contracts admission OLG Regional Appeal Court Köln LG Köln higher court Cologne law concerning medical profession medical practitioners’ liability social health insurance doctor law of medicine Berlin lawyer Hamburg Munich Stuttgart Frankfurt Düsseldorf Darmstadt Hanover Brunswick Magdeburg media law warning notice UWG German unfair competition act judgements Web space higher court software software law e-mail e-mail-ad email spam spamming media services pseudonym domain-grabbing domain service law office lawyers attorneys-at-law Berlin Munich Cologne Hamburg Hanover online legal counselling media law right to free speech freedom of speech jurist legal sciences jurists Göttingen Göppingen Pirna Nagold Kempten Iserlohn profession Bayreuth Saarbrücken Oder Augsburg Neustadt Coesfeld Elmshorn Riesa Soest Dresden Kassel Dessau Dortmund Rottweil Soltau Rastatt Bautzen Plauen Coburg Würzburg Erfurt Schwerin Neuwied Uelzen Wetzlar Kaiserslautern Papenburg Cuxhaven Wiesmoor Hof Ulm Gronau Wilhelmshaven Nordhausen Saarlouis Wolfsburg Gelsenkirchen Ludwigsburg Altenburg Villingen Schwenningen Schweinfurt Offenburg Memmingen Halberstadt Leck Schwandorf Wittenberg Neunkirchen Montabaur Aschaffenburg Waiblingen Bielefeld Rosenheim Karlsruhe Emsdetten Ingolstadt; profession occuptation Attendorn Paderborn Offenbach lawyer design trademark search Hildesheim Reutlingen Pfarrkirchen Sangerhausen Merseburg Deggendorf Heidelberg Ludwigshafen Ravensburg Regensburg Baltic seaside resort steamer boat steamboat Helmstedt designer Darmstadt translator Traunstein Dannenberg Wuppertal Neuruppin Kreuznach Pforzheim Salzgitter outwork Neubrandenburg Annaberg Hanau Donauwörth Gera additional income Driburg income Limburg Marburg Korbach Ansbach Meschede Zwickau Landshut Stade Heide Landau Verden Oldesloe Hagen Hameln Aalen Ahlen attoney-law-at Wesel Essen Mayen Krefeld Herford outplacement Bergisch Gladbach tradmark branding name Vechta profession Bochum Oschatz Gotha Freiburg Balingen Solingen Freising profession Düsseldorf Weilheim Suhl trademark application Pirmasens Recklinghausen Hamm Nienburg Mannheim Stendal Göttingen Göppingen Pirna Nagold Kempten Iserlohn Bayreuth Saarbrücken Augsburg Neustadt Coesfeld Elmshorn Riesa Soest Dresden Kassel Dessau Lizenz distribution Marketing Dortmund Rottweil Soltau Rastatt Bautzen Plauen Coburg Würzburg Erfurt Schwerin Neuwied Uelzen Wetzlar Kaiserslautern Giessen Kanzlei Schleissheim Tauberbischofsheim Hersfeld Halle Neumünster Gronau Köln Cologne products Hamburg Kiel Flensburg Cuxhaven Lübeck Bremerhaven Leer Emden Barock Oldenburg Meppen Lingen Papenburg Aurich Wiesmoor Nordhorn Bonn Duisburg Oberhausen Bottrop München Berlin Stuttgart Frankfurt Nuremberg Hanover Oeynhausen Leipzig Rostock attorneys-at-law regional Osnabrück Marketing partner programme Lörrach Weil Euro Internet Partner programme Wellness part-time work additional earnings jobs Hamburg München Berlin Stuttgart Kiel loan employment Lübeck Bremen Leipzig Rostock Aachen Attendorn Driburg Heilbronn Bamberg Jena Brunswick Celle Lüneburg Dannenberg Chemnitz Cottbus Detmold Eberswalde Emsdetten Flensburg Niebüll Fulda Goslar Ingolstadt Koblenz Konstanz Lingen Meppen Magdeburg Mainz Neustadt main profession regular occupation Gronau Nordhorn Oldenburg Ostseebad Passau Potsdam Salzgitter Soltau Trier Wiesbaden Wolfsburg Oldesloe Elmshorn Flensburg Hamburg Heide Kiel Lübeck setting up in business Neubrandenburg Neumünster Rostock Gründer Schwerin Stralsund Braunschweig Brunswick Bremen Bremerhaven Celle Emden Grenzach-Wyhlen Göttingen Goslar Hannover Helmstedt Hildesheim Leer Lüneburg Weil Nienburg Nordhorn Oldenburg Osnabrück Stade Uelzen Vechta Verden Wilhelmshaven Cottbus Eberswalde Frankfurt/Oder Neuruppin law Potsdam Altenburg Dessau Erfurt Gera Gotha Halberstadt Halle Jena law Grenzach-Wyhlen Magdeburg Merseburg Nordhausen Sangerhausen Stendal Suhl Wittenberg Hersfeld legal advice Darmstadt Frankfurt Fulda Gießen Hanau Kassel Korbach Limburg Marburg Offenbach Wetzlar Wiesbaden Aachen legal Ahlen Bielefeld Barock Bergisch Bochum Bonn Brühl Coesfeld Detmold Dortmund Düren Düsseldorf Duisburg Essen Gelsenkirchen lawyer economic law trademark search attorney-at-law

 

 

ip-attorney-ip-lawyer print | trademark-law-patent-domain-design-utility-model-europe save | law-of-technics-multi-media-law-german-business-lawyer back | european-trademark-protection-german-trademarks-european-law enquiry


© 1998-2008 IP Attorney at law Michael Horak· Roscherstrasse 12 · 30161 Hannover · Germany
Fon: +49.511.590910.20
· Fax: +49.511.590910.55 · mailto:horak@iprecht.de