What is a Utility Model?
A utility model is similar to a patent in reference to the exclusive rights granted by the title. However, utility models –or petty patents—protect those inventions which did not qualify for patents based on insufficient innovation claims. While the invention protected by a utility model must meet the same requirements as a patent, the requirements for non-obvious improvement may be all together absent.
Usually inventions qualifying for utility models are those which incrementally better a current process, art, or object. Typical inventions covered by a utility model may include utensils, instruments, tools, appliances, or individual devices or parts thereof.
Utility models protect the invention for up to 10 years from the original application date. However, in some countries, this time frame may be limited to 7 without the possibility of extension or renewal.
General Characteristics
- Validity of 10 years.
- Requires novelty and inventive activity.
- You can enter the PCT international procedure.
- Time for the grant from the request 7 months.
- Does not require a State of the Art Report (EIT).
“Our consulting team works with your business to exceed your goals”
IGLOBAX team has over 15 years of experience in the Intellectual Property sector and we are here to help with your IP needs.
Professionalism and Transparency
Confidenciality
Our consultants will send you a confidentiality agreement to preserve the integrity of your invention. Additionally, our team will conduct a preliminary investigation of your invention to ensure the idea´s originality qualifies for a utility model.
Written specifications
IGLOBAX will work with your business to draft your invention´s specifications and to create explanatory technical drawings. After annotating your invention, we will finalize the draft and prepare documentation for a patent application in the appropriate Patent and Trademark Office.
Monitoring
We will continually monitor your application, advise your company on all deadlines, and further assist you with all international correspondences associated with you Utility model.
Stages in the registration procedure of a Utility Model
