Collective Memory

Very often you see the words IP Manager mentioned. But what kind of person is this? What does he or she do? In this article, we will go into a little more detail about that.

Patents are valid everywhere in the world and if you have a patent, you get rich.... This is a misconception that is widespread. If only that were true!

The standard answer to the question of how long it takes to obtain a patent is “it depends.” But at Custos IPC, we like to give a somewhat clearer and more complete answer. The process of obtaining a patent depends on several factors.

Yes, you can protect your invention in multiple countries, but this requires a specific approach. This is because patent protection is territorial, which means that a patent offers protection only in the country in which it was applied for and granted.

When your patent is granted, it is often a great milestone that should be celebrated. After all, your patent gives you exclusive rights to your invention. No one else may use, manufacture, sell or import the invention without your permission. But, how do you enforce your rights?

This is a frequently asked question to us. Fortunately, there is a simple answer: a patent is valid from the moment it is granted by the patent granting authority.

That's a fun question! Obtaining a patent can certainly be tricky, as the process involves several steps and strict requirements. But at Custos IPC, we like to unburden. Leave the difficulty to us, we are here to help you and not to be difficult.

Applying for a patent in the Netherlands is a formal process that provides protection for your invention. During this process, the support of a patent attorney is not an obligation, but it certainly ensures that everything runs smoothly and no issues are overlooked. The application process goes through several steps that we briefly explain here.

Patents can protect a wide range of inventions. But, there are also some subjects that are excluded from patent protection. These exclusions vary from country to country, but fortunately most patent systems follow similar guidelines. In this article, we list the main exclusions for obtaining a patent.

As so often, there is no simple answer to this simple and justified question. "Yes", there is a European patent, but it is not the same as a single patent that is automatically valid in all European countries. So also "no", there is no European patent, although....

A patent is an exclusive right granted to an inventor or company for an invention. This exclusive right gives the holder of the patent the sole right to commercially exploit the invention for a specified period of time.

In short: No. But, when you file a patent application, it does remain secret for a certain period of time. In most countries, including the Netherlands and the member states of the European Patent Convention, this is 18 months.

The unitary patent is a relatively new phenomenon in our field. It has been discussed a lot, even as early as 1973, when the European Patent Convention (EPC) came into force. But due to different political views among member states, it only came into force on 1 June 2023.

Simply put, keeping a patent valid is done by continuing to pay the taxes. Every patent granting agency employs people to manage and maintain the rights of applicants.

In general, IP management is a strategic process that looks at the business value of your intellectual property and the protection it (still) affords you. In doing so, you consider not only patents, but also trademarks, designs, copyrights and trade secrets.

The term of validity of a patent depends on the type of patent as well as the country in which it was granted, but in most cases a patent is valid for a period of 20 years from the filing date of the application.

A question regularly asked is whether there is a worldwide patent. No, there is no patent that is automatically valid around the world. A patent is granted country by country and is valid only in the country in which it is granted.

A simple question, yet one that is asked with some regularity. The answer to this question is a short and simple one, namely: nothing. There is no difference between a patent and a patent.

The innovation box is a tax incentive scheme for all companies that pay corporate taxes. The scheme is designed to encourage companies to invest in research and development (R&D).

There are several reasons for applying for a patent.

A patent gives you exclusive rights to your invention, preventing others from simply using, selling or manufacturing your innovation without your permission.

To know whether a patent is infringed, Article 69 of the European Patent Convention (EPC) is consulted. Protocol (Section 3.7.2) of Article 69 reads, “The scope of protection of the European patent shall be determined by the claims.

There are a number of requirements for granting a patent. An invention must be new, innovative, repeatable and industrially applicable.