{"id":3798,"date":"2021-10-15T14:33:26","date_gmt":"2021-10-15T12:33:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patenty.sk\/?page_id=3798"},"modified":"2025-06-20T08:52:30","modified_gmt":"2025-06-20T06:52:30","slug":"utility-models","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.patenty.sk\/en\/services\/utility-models\/","title":{"rendered":"UTILITY MODELS"},"content":{"rendered":"

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SERVICES<\/span>UTILITY MODELS<\/span><\/span><\/h2><\/header>
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What is a utility model<\/span><\/span><\/h3><\/header>
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A utility model protects technical solutions in the same way as a patent protects inventions. A utility model is sometimes nicknamed a \u201clittle patent\u201d because it can protect similar technical subject matter as the patent, but the registration of a utility model is quicker than patent proceedings and the maximum validity of a utility model is only 10 years. Patent protection exists in almost every country, but utility model protection is a complementary institute that exists only in some countries, and even within those countries there can be substantial differences in substantive and procedural law.<\/p>\n

The utility model confers on its owner exclusive rights to use the invention in the given territory during the patent\u2019s lifetime (up to 20 years). The utility model ensures a monopoly for its owner, guaranteed by the state, and it provides the owner with the same legal means as in the case of patent to claim this monopoly in courts, customs offices or law enforcement.<\/p>\n

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What can be protected by utility model, and what cannot be <\/span><\/span><\/h3><\/header>
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Utility models usually protect devices, systems, connections, technological methods and products. Similarly as in the case of patents, scientific discoveries, scientific theories, mathematical methods, aesthetic creations, rules for intellectual labor, therapeutic methods for treatment of human or animal body, or trade methods, cannot be protected.<\/p>\n

Compared to patents, the scope of protection is limited that it does not include products consisting of biological materials, methods of production of biological materials, of chemical substances, of pharmaceutical substances, as well as medical use of such substances and mixtures. This holds for territory of Slovakia; in Czech Republic, the utility model can protect medical use of substances and mixtures, but it cannot protect production methods.<\/p>\n

The utility model laws in Slovakia and Czech Republic have, for a long time, stemmed from the same law from 1992. We can see in current differences that the scope of protection does indeed differ from country to country. Utility model is useful for local products or as a corollary to patent protection.<\/p>\n

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How long does it take to obtain the utility model?<\/span><\/span><\/h3><\/header>
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The preparation for filing a utility model application is in substance very similar to the patent application. First, a search is carried out to determine the state of the art. In contrast to patent proceedings, the office carries out a search during the application proceedings but it is not taken into account in the proceedings. The utility model application is then published in the Gazette and if no one files an opposition within three months, the office registers the utility model. Thus, the utility model will be registered even if the office knows from the search report that the technical solution is not new. A known technical solution can thus be in practice registered as a utility model \u2013 literally, a cogwheel or a table with four legs can be registered in such way. Later, however, the utility model can be cancelled (ex tunc, from the beginning). We also carry out a prior art search when preparing a utility model application in order to assess the risk of opposition or cancellation in advance. The results are consulted with the applicant or inventor, respectively. We then draft and file the utility model application for, usually at SK IPO or CZ IPO.<\/p>\n

We then have 12 months from the priority date of basic utility model application to file European patent application for 38 countries (directly at EPO, Munich) or international PCT application for 153 countries (directly at WIPO, Geneva) \u2013 the priority date of such applications is the same as that of the basic application. Foreign applications derived from the original utility model application can be themselves utility model applications \u2013 if utility models exist in the country \u2013 or they can be patent applications.<\/p>\n

Claiming priority means that that, legally, the date of filing of the subsequent application is the same as that of the basic application. The applicant thus gains one year during which he or she can commercially develop the invention while only investing in a single application in a single country, yet.<\/p>\n

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Why should you be represented?<\/span><\/span><\/h3><\/header>
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Patent protection has be historically developed since the Eiffel Tower building. The basic international act is Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property from 1883, where the signatories sign up for patent protection. The patent law has subsequently developed into current complex and complicated form with tens of variously set deadlines, complex case-law and various approaches to assessment of inventive step. The language of patent claims, where a sentence can run for a whole page, may appear weird to a layman.\n\nAlmost everywhere, the applicant needs not to be represented before the national office in the country of his seat or address. Therefore, the applicant can draft and file the application himself or herself. Such do-it-yourself applications usually contain mistakes which cannot be subsequently remedied by the professional representatives. In case the applicant intends to obtain patent protection abroad, we strongly recommend that the basic national application is already drafted by the patent attorney, since the costs of subsequent \u201cimprovement\u201d of application abroad, if it is even possible, are much higher than the costs saved on the representation on the national level.<\/p>\n

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Why choose us?<\/span><\/span><\/h3><\/header>
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Our law firm has more than 20 years of experience with representing the clients before various patent offices. We have registered hundreds of utility models, litigated the utility models against infringers and defended the clients against litigations on the basis of utility models. Due to our experience in adversary proceedings and lawsuits (before EPO, SK IPO, CZ IPO, EUIPO, Slovak courts at all levels) we are now in the situation where we can advise our clients on correct tactics, and we can identify the risks and perform due diligence.<\/p>\n

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FAQ<\/span><\/span><\/h3><\/header>
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Our competitors have registered a utility model registered at SK IPO for a perfectly ordinary product and now prevent us from manufacturing and selling our own product. How is it possible that SK IPO has patent something so common? They claim that they have made no mistake. <\/div>
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Yes, SK IPO did indeed make no mistake. A utility model is not a patent. In case of utility model, the prior art is only taken into account if someone opposes the application. You have not opposed it, you probably did not even follow the Gazette. It is, however, possible to file a cancellation request, but until the utility model is cancelled, it is considered valid. The best tactics can be suggested after detailed analysis of the situation. It is also possible that you are not actually infringing the utility model in question. We often encounter misinterpretations of the scope of protection where the other party judges the scope of protection on the basis of description and not claims.<\/p>\n

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I want register a utility model, but I am afraid that by doing so I will disclose the recipe to my competitors. Can I keep the application confidential?<\/div>
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The application must describe the subject matter of the protection in such detail that it can be realized by a person skilled in the art. It is not possible to obtain protection for technical features which are not clearly defined in the application (and later in the registered utility model). The monopoly is granted to the owner of the utility model on a temporary basis and, after the validity expires, the technical solution in question can be used by anyone; such use is neither illegal nor immoral. This ensures general technical progress. Protection cannot be granted for the unknown inside of a \u2018black box\u2019, for a \u2018cat in a bag\u2019. You must therefore decide either to protect your recipe by means of trade secret, or by filing an application which will later be made public. We can draw up internal confidentiality guidelines.<\/p>\n

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Why choose us?<\/span><\/span><\/h3><\/header>
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Our office has more than 20 years of experience and skills in representing clients before various patent offices. We directly and actively represent clients before the Industrial Property Office of the Slovak Republic, the Industrial Property Office of the Czech Republic, the European Patent Office in Munich, the World Intellectual Property Organization WIPO Geneva, the European Union Intellectual Property Office EUIPO Alicante (formerly OHIM Alicante), the Unified Patent Court (UPC). You can see our convincing success rate in proceedings as well as the scope of filings in the published web registers of the aforementioned offices. We have successfully obtained hundreds of patents for clients, defended patent infringements, attacked other patent applications and protected clients against claims from the third parties' patents. Litigation proceedings (EPO Munich, UPV SK, UPV CZ, Courts at all levels in SK), urgent measures and administrative actions have moved us further to a situation where we can choose the right tactics for the client and identify risks.<\/p>\n

We have successfully obtained hundreds of patents for clients, defended patent infringements, attacked other patent applications and protected clients against claims from the third parties' patents. Litigation proceedings (EPO Munich, UPV SK, UPV CZ, Courts at all levels in SK), urgent measures and administrative actions have moved us further to a situation where we can choose the right tactics for the client and identify risks.<\/p>\n

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