Intend to applying for an Utility Model? Important info to be known beforehand.
In practice, the term of utility model protection goes from 10 - 15 years, depending the country, then the utility model becomes part of the public domain.You may obtain a utility model by filing it to directly to the Intellectual Property Office of the country desired. It is also possible to obtain a valid utility model protection through an international application within the frame of Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).
Utility Model Registration Procedure:
The Intellectual Property Office carries out formal and substantive examinations in the course of the procedure, but the examination does not cover the examination of the novelty and the existence of the inventive step. An Utility model must have industrial applicability. The examination carried out by the Intellectual Property Office does not extend to novelty and inventive step. The usual length of the procedure is 6-12 months.
Currently, a number of countries and regional patent offices provide utility model protection. These include: Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belize, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lao Peoples Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Mozambique, Oman, Namibia, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Swaziland, Tanzania, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam, ARIPO, OAPI and Andean Community.
The Utility Model are the fast and low-cost protection way availble for your invention. It can protect all technical inventions, including also chemical substances, food and medicinal products, except for processes.
The utility model will be registered within a few months after filing the application. This IP right becomes effective upon registration and gives you the same rights as a patent: exclusive right to use, produce and market your invention. You may prohibit any person from doing the same.
