The world is changing quickly, with technological advancements and the evolving needs of consumers bringing new opportunities and challenges. In this ever-changing world, it sometimes feels like there is no one-stop-shop to find all the information and resources you need, whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out. That's why we've curated this blog post: to tell you everything you need to know about patents, including how to register your 특허출원 and the different types of patents available to be registered.
What Is A Patent?
A patent is a form of intellectual property (IP) that protects an invention or a process. It provides the owner with the legal right to exclude others from making, using or selling the protected invention or process for a certain period of time. In other words, it's a form of IP that gives the owner the exclusive right to make, use or sell a designated invention or process for a specific period of time. A patent can also be referred to as a “patent application” or “invention patent”.
The length of time a patent is valid depends on a number of factors, such as the classification of the patent and who registered it. However, in general, a patent is valid for 20 years from the date of filing (filing date) and can be extended for another 20 years (20 years from filing). Some countries have different rules for granting and expiring patents. For instance, in Germany, French and Swiss patents are valid for 28 years, while in Japan and Brazil they are only valid for 20 years.
Why Should You Apply For A Patent?
A patent can provide a number of benefits to your business, including protecting your invention from being stolen, providing you with the means to economically defend your invention, and giving you the motivation to create something new and great. Applying for a patent can be a lengthy and cumbersome process that requires legal representation, so be sure to do your research before jumping in. We've discussed the various advantages of applying for a patent in more detail below.
Protect Your Inventions And Innovation
If you have an invention or discovery that you believe could be patented, applying for a patent is the best way to protect it. For example, say you discover a new drug, treatment or medical device that has been shown to be effective in treating diseases or conditions. Even if you choose to remain silent about your invention, someone might discover it and decide to pursue it themselves. It is always best to be the first to file for a patent on an invention or discovery. Filing patent applications for new inventions and discoveries means you have the option of enforcing your legal rights should someone decide to infringe on your IP rights. At the very least, you can ask for compensation.
Offering Better Legal Protection
Whether you are a seasoned entrepreneur with existing patents or are just starting out, applying for patents offers better legal protection than trying to protect your invention or idea through traditional routes, such as copyrights or trademarks. One of the main benefits of applying for patents is that you have the ability to exclude others from making, using or selling your invention or discovery for a specific period of time. This period of time is known as the “invention or discovery period” and is generally between 12 and 17 years depending on the jurisdiction you have filed your patent application in. A patent does not protect your existing copyrights, which are covered under different law, nor does it protect your existing trademark registrations, which are also covered under different law.
Provide You With A Motivation To Create Something New
Applying for a patent can provide you with the motivation to create something new and great. After all, you have the opportunity to legally protect an invention or discovery that you deem valuable. If you have an idea for a product or process and decide it's worthy of a patent, applying for a patent can give you the motivation to bring it to life. What's more, you have the option of asking for financial compensation if someone decides to infringe on your IP rights.
Offers More Choices For Legal Representatives
As mentioned above, applying for a patent can be a lengthy and cumbersome process that requires legal representation. If you decide to go down this route, you must choose your legal representatives wisely. You cannot do this task yourself, as you will bear the responsibility of handling legal matters related to your patents. Depending on the jurisdiction you have filed your patent application in, there will be many lawyers you can choose from, but few will be experienced in dealing with complex legal matters involving patents. Hiring an intellectual property (IP) attorney or legal representative to help you navigate the complex world of patents will be beneficial for you and your business.
Types Of Patents Available
Not all types of patents are created equal. For example, software patents and plant patents are two completely different beasts. What's more, some jurisdictions (such as the U.S.) offer a variety of different types of patents, while others (such as Germany) don't offer software patents to protect software and inventions derived from software.
Below, we will discuss the various types of patents and how to determine which ones are right for you.
Software Patents
If you develop a software program for use on a computer or other electronic device, you can apply for a patent on the algorithm you developed. In other words, the program you developed would be the invention, and the patent would be on the invention's algorithm. The most common type of software patent is the method patent, which covers a process for solving a specific problem using software. For example, a method patent for checking email could look like this:
Identify the specific problem
The problem:
- Sending email to a large number of people
- The people to whom you want to send the email
- The email must be sent
The solution:
Use a specific algorithm to solve the problem
The algorithm:
- Take a weighted average of the number of occurrences in the last N days of similar emails sent to your email list
- Use a hypergeometric distribution to determine the confidence interval
The hypergeometric distribution:
- Defines the probability of exactly k similar occurrences given n observations, where the probability of a given occurrence is p
- The objective is to find p and q such that
- P (at least k similar occurrences within N days) + Q (at least k similar occurrences within N days) = 1, where P and Q are the above defined probabilities
Any additional information about the algorithm:
The form of the solution (e.g., a formula or a computer program)
The purpose of the algorithm (e.g., to solve a problem, determine an outcome, or identify a pattern)
The problem to be solved:
- Accessing one's email is often an annoyance
- Most people use email clients to check their email, which makes it easier for someone to access their emails without their permission
- You want to give users the option of disabling certain features in your product so they don't have to worry about their privacy being invaded
How to solve the problem:
You need to develop an algorithm that can determine whether a particular email is similar or related to an already sent email (e.g., does this email contain any information that was in the previous email? If so, it's a duplicate and should be ignored)
The previous email:
The date of the previous email:
The subject of the previous email:
- The body of the previous email: