From Invention to Patent -Patents as Tool for Economic Success- WIPO – INSME International Training Program IP and Management of Innovation in SMEs May 11, 2005 Christian W. Appelt German and European Patent and Trademark Attorney
Mar 27, 2015
From Invention to Patent-Patents as Tool for Economic Success-
WIPO – INSME International Training ProgramIP and Management of Innovation in SMEs
May 11, 2005
Christian W. AppeltGerman and European Patent and Trademark
Attorney
BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT
What is IP – Why do we need IPRs?
Intellectual Property / Immaterial Goods
•No „physical entity“ („idea“)•Realizable / easy to copy/multiply•Value when multiplied? (rises/falls)•Aggregate Value added (by whom?)•Amendments possible•control?
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Major Effects of Patents
• Patents control a product or market segment
• Patents disclose knowledge to public
• Patenting requires “money”– Costs for application and prosecution– Renewal fees
→ To patent or not to patent???
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Criteria for IP decision - market
• Factor “time” – Patent prosecution 2-4 years– Patent enforcement 1-2 years
(longer?)• Market/competitor situation
– “behavior” of competitors– Possibilities for cooperation– Possibilities for “other products”,
circumventing scope of protection
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Criteria for IP decision - procedural
• Legal (Patent Law)– Publication after 18 months– Possibly patenting by competitor
• Technological aspects– Technical advantage– Possibilities for keeping secret– Technical alternatives
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Criteria for IP decision - financial
• Costs for a patent– European Patent: EUR 10.000 to
40.000, depending on no. of designated countries
– National Patent: EUR 5.000 to 10.000– Renewal Fees
• Costs for enforcement/litigation (national)– Depending on country (DE ↔ US)– Cost “risk” DE: EUR 60.000 to 200.000
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Defensive/passive Strategies
• Keeping secret– Non-disclosure of technical knowledge
• Due Diligence– Search and evaluation of IPRs of Third
Parties
• Publication (“Secret” Publication)– Preventing patents of Third Parties
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Active Strategies
• Application strategy– Which technology where to patent ?
• Market• Place of business of competitor• Enforcement systems (legal, time, costs)
• Enforcement Strategies– Litigation / Monopoly– Cooperative strategies
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Application Strategies
• Application of “basic patents”
– Patents with broad scope of protection
– Already very few (single) patents effective
– However, often not possible (in “third hands”)
• Application of “enhancement”
– Smaller scope of protection→ more patents necessary
– “holes” in protection of basic patent by alternative solution
– Stopping further enhancement of basic product
– Dependent patents → cross licensing
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Basic Technology vs. Further Enhancement
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Patent or Know How ?
• Can invention be kept secret for “absolute reasons“?
• Can invention be kept secret for “relative reasons“?– Persons involved internally– External cooperation– Secrecy agreement– “Secret“ publication
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Advantages of IPRs (Patents)
• Protection of own business– Control of own Technology (Start Ups, SMEs)– Freedom to market (!!)– Access to external Technology– Currency: “technology”
• Licensing (and Technology Transfer TT)
• Medium term goals
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IPR – Generating Process
• State of Art / Problems / Searches• R&D, Manufacturing, Ideas, …• „Finalization“ of an invention?• Confidentiality Agreements / no
publication/use• Early Filing of 1st application
– delay of further costs (foreign filings, EP, PCT,…)?
• First protect, then make business!(or “Know How” ?)
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Patents in Force(Source: EPO – Trilateral Web Site)
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Worldwide Patent Activities(Source: EPO – Trilateral Web Site)
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Who owns your local market?(Source: EPO – Trilateral Web Site)
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Further Questions ?
Contact me at:
[email protected] W. AppeltBoehmert & BoehmertPettenkoferstr. 20-22D-80336 MunichGermanyTel.: + 49 – 89 – 55 96 80Fax: + 49 – 89 – 34 70 10