1. Industrial Property the Patent system
Nurhak AKDOGAN
European & French Patent Attorney
Pontet-Allano & Associés

2. Creation / Invention? Invention Creation Author Right Intellect Patent
Program code
Aesthetic…
Invention
Device
System
Method
Use
Intellect
Patent 2

3. Patenting an invention
What’s a patent
a title of property (immaterial):
monopoly given by state(s)
on a novel invention
in exchange of publishing it
creation: filing + examination
Lifetime : 20 years
Country dependant
François MUNDLER - Cabinet Pontet-Allano & Associés - March 22nd, 2012

4. Trademarks What’s a trademark Lifetime : renewable - unlimited
a title of property (immaterial):
monopoly given by state(s)
on a distinctive name
to identify a product or service
Lifetime : renewable - unlimited
Country dependant
Obtaining it
Exploitation

5. Other kind of Intellectual Property
Utility model (simplified patent)
Design model (aesthetic & look)
Printed board topography
Databases
Animal production processes
Vegetal production processes
François MUNDLER - Cabinet Pontet-Allano & Associés - March 22nd, 2012

6. « Protection » through Utility Patent Patentability
A. Criteria for patentability
Invention (technical)
Novelty (different from prior art) / prior art : all that was publicly disclosed before filing date - world wide
Inventive step (non obvious according to prior art) / for someone « skilled in the art » (but not creative)
Industrial application (some fields are excluded)

7. Patentability (in Europe)
B. Non Inventions
only aesthetic
only mental acts (business, social)
C. Non patentable
(for morality or philosophy reasons)
Medical field (FR: L / EPC: A53) :
Biological field (FR: L / EPC: A53) :
Human body (FR: L / EPC: A53-R29)
(for other reasons)
Computer program “as such” (FR: L / EPC: A52)

8. Biological matter (in Europe)
Many exclusions to patentability (R28, R29)
Processes for cloning human beings
Processes for modifying the germ line genetic identity of human beings
Uses of human embryos for industrial or commercial purposes
Processes for modifying the genetic identity of animals (when painful without medical benefit to man or animal)
The human body
Sequence of a gene (industrial application could be)

9. Biological matter (in Europe)
Many exclusions to patentability
Stem cells, when leading to destructing the embryo
Animal & vegetal varieties
Biological processes for producing animals or vegetals (micro-biological processes may be patented)

10. Software inventions Differences according to countries
USA : no restriction (initially) ↑
other countries: various situations… ↓
Europe : non-patentability (for the program in itself)
1973
~2010

11. What kind of invention New solution to a known technical problem
Selecting an optimal solution for a problem, within a wide range of known solutions
Identifying a new technical effect of a known method, device or system
Formulating a new technical problem 11
François MUNDLER - Cabinet Pontet-Allano & Associés - March 22nd, 2012

12. Property of who? Moral right : stay to the inventor
Patrimonial rights :
initially -> inventor
researcher, specific contract -> assignment of rights
independent, unspecified contractor -> inventor

13. Defining the protection
A. Structure of a patent document
Background – prior art
Brief summary – generic exposition
Detailed description –examplary embodiment
Claims
Drawings
(annexes : DNA sequences, program code, etc.)

14. The patent document: Specification
« Title »
Introduction
Present invention is related to …
Background
Field of the invention is …
It is currently known to … (drawbacks / currently proposed solutions / remaining problems)
Object of invention
An object of the invention is to …
Summary of the invention
The invention proposes a … (generic definition ≈ main claims)
Advantages
These features (limitations) enable to solve the problem of …
List of figures
figure 1 illustrates …
Description of an examplary (preferred) embodiment
As seen in figure 1, device according to the invention comprises…
Other embodiments
(Applications)

15. The patent document: Claims
1. Device for, wherein…
2. Device according to claim 1, wherein …
3. Device to any of claims 1 or 2, wherein …
……………………………………………………………………………………………
1. Method for data processing, comprising the following steps :
receiving a data of …,
computing at least a result data based on received data, through a process of …,
transmitting said result data to … …
1. Compound comprising …
1. Pharmaceutical compound for treating stomachal ulcer, comprising …
FIGURES
ANNEX
(ABSTRACT)

17. Managing this property right / for the Proprietor
B. Obtention
Filing
Extending
Examination process
Validating in local countries
Maintaining
Cost / deadlines

18. Multi-national granting processes : Timelines

19. What rights for the patentee
What kind of « protection »
a right to forbid (-> country)
Limits of protection
A. limits on product (only once)
B. limits on monopoly (#private, experimenting…)
C. limits from general interest
a restricted right (criteria, exception, lifetime…)
a disputed right (commercial freedom, open software…)
rights compared with scientific publication

20. Managing this property right / for the Proprietor
A. Making value
Tactical monopoly
Strategical monopoly
Money making licensing
Cross-licensing
Plus-value et selling
Immaterial actives in balance accounting

21. Managing this property right / for the Proprietor
B. Defense
Detecting infringing activities
Notifying
Judicial action
Infringement action
Defending the patent
Country dependant
Stakes (benefits) / risks (invalidation)

22. …in 2012
2,35 millions of patent applications, and more than one million patents issued…
for national applicants
for foreign applicants

23. …in 2012
2,35 millions of patent applications, and more than one million patents issued…
for national applicants
for foreign applicants

24. In conclusion Summary Industrial property : a panel of resources
a patent may protect : a technical innovation, that can be described and carried out
through a monopoly right based on: the application initial content (at filing date)
a money making tool, to be synchronized with other publications
a two-ways weapon – others may have it too
François MUNDLER - Cabinet Pontet-Allano & Associés - March 22nd, 2012