Patenting workshop: Tips for inventors in Suhl!

Patenting workshop: Tips for inventors in Suhl!

The workshop “From Invention to Patent” will take place on October 29, 2023 at the IHK Südthüringen in Suhl. This free event is organized by the PATON State Patent Center Thuringia, the IHK Südthüringen and the German Patent and Trademark Office (DPMA). The workshop runs from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and offers a comprehensive introduction to the world of intellectual property.

In the morning, participants will be introduced to several aspects of intellectual property law. This includes the requirements for patenting and the structure of patent specifications. In the afternoon the focus is on the patent process. Topics such as adapting patent claims and accessing electronic files are covered. Participants also gain insights into practice using examples from patent examination. Those interested should register by October 14th by email or online. A contact person for questions is Sabine Milde from the PATON State Patent Center Thuringia, who can be reached at +49 3677 69-4503 or by email.

Property rights and their meaning

As the DPMA explains, intellectual property rights are of central importance for a company's innovative strength. There are different types of intellectual property rights, including patents, utility models, trademarks, designs and topographies. Patents protect technical inventions and are valid for a period of up to 20 years, while utility models offer similar protection for up to 10 years.

The essential requirements for patents are novelty, inventive step and commercial applicability. On the other hand, trademarks and designs are protected through entries in appropriate registers. A striking feature of the intellectual property rights system is the possibility of regularly extending these rights, which is particularly true for trademarks, which can be renewed an unlimited number of times.

Online research and innovations

The DPMA also provides valuable online databases in which users can research patents, utility models, trademarks and designs free of charge. The DPMA's IPC application recently received an update and now offers flexible search fields as well as a comparison view for different versions and languages. These new functions improve user-friendliness and enable more detailed research, both via the DPMAregister and DEPATISnet.

Thorough research and understanding of intellectual property rights is essential, especially for companies that are new to the market or want to introduce innovative products. In this way, they can effectively secure their own ideas and at the same time identify legal stumbling blocks in advance.

For detailed information on the individual intellectual property rights and their requirements, the DPMA refers to its brochures and cost information sheets in order to provide comprehensive guidance.