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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?
BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT
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???
BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT
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
BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT
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
BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT
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
BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT
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
BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT
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
BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT
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
BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT
Basic Technology vs. Further Enhancement
BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT
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
BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT
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
BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT
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” ?)
BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT
Patents in Force(Source: EPO – Trilateral Web Site)
BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT
Worldwide Patent Activities(Source: EPO – Trilateral Web Site)
BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT
Who owns your local market?(Source: EPO – Trilateral Web Site)
BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT
Further Questions ?
Contact me at:
[email protected] W. AppeltBoehmert & BoehmertPettenkoferstr. 20-22D-80336 MunichGermanyTel.: + 49 – 89 – 55 96 80Fax: + 49 – 89 – 34 70 10