Patent Lawyers in the Application Process

January 13, 2010
Intellectual Property News and Interesting Facts

Patent Lawyers in South Africa are able to assist in the whole patent application process in more than one way.

Firstly the patent lawyers will file a provisional patent application at the Patent Office. This is the first step to ensure that the invention date can be stipulated. In case of a later dispute the earliest filing date will be taken into consideration. The patent lawyers will then complete the patent application process within 12 months of the filing.

This will also be done in all the countries outside South Africa where you want to get patent rights. As part of this process the patent lawyers will do novelty searches, help with the specifications and get a qualified person to assist with the drawings, will establish the usefulness of the invention, and the inventiveness.

Since South Africa doesn’t have an investigating Patent Office, it is the task of the patent applicant or his lawyers to ensure that the invention meets the requirements of a patent.