To protect your rights as the owner of an invention, you need to file a patent application for the invention in each country, where protection is sought. If your invention is new, inventive and useful, then it might qualify for patent protection. Patent Applications Remember to keep your invention a secret until the patent application [...]
Patent ambush is the phrase used to describe a situation of patent misuse where one of the standard setting organization’s members keeps vital information from the rest while setting up a new standard. The member involved in the patent ambush is either the company owner or one of the members that intend to file a [...]
A patent caveat no longer exists. It was a form of legal document that could be filed with the patent office of the USA. Patent caveats were in use from 1836 to 1909 when such were discontinued. What Did The Patent Caveat Entail? It was similar to a patent application and also included elements such [...]
The patent family refers to a group of patents registered in several countries to protect an invention. The patent application is done in one country and then obtains priority. This priority is then extended to numerous countries. A patent family is thus one invention which is patented in several countries by one inventor or group [...]
The Smit & Van Wyk Gauteng patent Attorneys assist clients in various ways including that of consultation. One example of a situation where the guidance of the Smit & Van Wyk Attorneys will be useful is that of knowing the rights that are obtained when a patent application is successful. Advice will be provided such [...]
Before you jump the gun and submit complete patent applications, consider the benefits of first applying for a provisional patent. Once a complete patent application has been filed, it is impossible to add additional matter. These patent applications are also much more expensive than the provisional applications. The benefit of this two-step approach is the [...]
While it is important to register your new inventions in order to protect your intellectual property, there are a few basic requirements that an invention need to adhere to according to South African law before you can initiate patent applications. All patent applications need to be: New: South Africa has a so-called “absolute” novelty requirement, [...]
Patent applicants are well aware of the fact that applying for patent rights in Europe may mean several years wait before applications will be approved. In fact, the average waiting time for European patents at the European Patent Office is about seven years where it will only take about 12 months for an application to [...]
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