Inventions: Patents
When you invent something, you should consider obtaining A legal protection giving an exclusive right to produce a certain invention for a certain period of time (currently 20 years) to its owner. protection before your product becomes public. This section will help you to understand the benefits of A legal protection giving an exclusive right to produce a certain invention for a certain period of time (currently 20 years) to its owner. protection, and search for existing Legal protection giving an exclusive right to produce a certain invention for a certain period of time (currently 20 years) to its owner. and A legal protection giving an exclusive right to produce a certain invention for a certain period of time (currently 20 years) to its owner. applications. It also explains key steps in the application process, who owns Legal protection giving an exclusive right to produce a certain invention for a certain period of time (currently 20 years) to its owner. created by people working for you, and how to monitor for A legal protection giving an exclusive right to produce a certain invention for a certain period of time (currently 20 years) to its owner. infringements. You should engage a A lawyer who is an expert in the technical, legal and business aspects of patents and can assist with making patent applications and providing other advice in relation to patents for A legal protection giving an exclusive right to produce a certain invention for a certain period of time (currently 20 years) to its owner. applications as it is a complex and specialised process.
Understanding patents
- 1.What is a patent?
- 2.How do I recognise a patent?
- 3.Should I register my invention as a patent?
- 4.How do I know whether I should apply for a patent?
- 5.What can I patent?
- 6.Is there anything that is specifically excluded from patent protection?
- 7.What do new and inventive mean when deciding whether I can patent something?
- 8.How will a patent protect my invention?
- 9.Are there alternatives to using a patent to protect my invention?
Searching for patents and patent applications
- 10.How can I find patents and patent applications?
- 11.How up to date and complete is the information I can find on patent search databases like Espacenet and Patentscope?
- 12.How do I search for UK patent applications which have not yet been published?
- 13.How do I search for patent applications using Espacenet?
- 14.How do I search for patent applications using Patentscope?
- 15.How do I use the simple search function on Patentscope?
- 16.How do I use the field combination search function on Patentscope?
- 17.How do I carry out a patent search using keywords?
- 18.What is a patent classification code and how do I search for patents using this?
- 19.What professional services can I use to search patent applications?
Understanding patent search results
- 20.How do I understand the results of a patent search?
- 21.What do the application number and application date in a patent search result mean?
- 22.What do the inventor and applicant details in a patent search result mean?
- 23.What do the priority details in a patent search result mean?
- 24.What do the publication date and publication number in a patent search result mean?
- 25.What do the claims sections in a patent search result tell me?
- 26.What does the Legal events tab mean on Espacenet?
- 27.What does the INPADOC patent family mean on Espacenet?
- 28.What does the 'national phase' mean on Patentscope?
- 29.What do the notices and documents on Patentscope tell me?
Applying for a patent in the UK
- 30.What do I need to know about the UK patent application process?
- 31.How do I engage a patent attorney to handle my patent application?
- 32.How long does it take to obtain a patent in the UK?
- 33.What are the key steps involved in the process for obtaining a patent in the UK?
- 34.What are the basic costs and renewal fees for applying for a patent in the UK?
Applying for a patent overseas
- 35.What do I need to know about applying for a patent overseas?
- 36.What process is involved in applying for a patent overseas and how long will it take?
- 37.What are the key points to note about applying for a patent in Europe through the central European patent office?
- 38.What are the key points to note about applying for a patent internationally through the UK IPO or International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)?
- 39.What are the key points to note when applying for a patent directly to an overseas patent office?
- 40.How has Brexit affected my European patents?
Employees and patents
- 41. Who can patent things invented by employees?
- 42.How do I know whether an invention was made in the course of an employee's normal duties?
- 43.What can I do to protect any patentable inventions created by employees?
- 44.How do I include appropriate clauses in employment contracts to ensure my business owns any patentable inventions created by employees?
- 45.How can I register a patent to ensure my business owns it when created by employees?
- 46.What can I do to make sure patents belonging to my business are not stolen or misused by my employees?
- 47.How long can my business keep patentable inventions created by employees?
- 48.Do I have to give credit to or pay employees for patented inventions they develop for me?
Freelancers and consultants and patents
- 49.Who can patent things invented by consultants and freelancers?
- 50.What can I do to protect any patentable inventions created by consultants and freelancers?
- 51.How do I include appropriate clauses in contracts to ensure my business owns patentable inventions created by consultants or freelancers?
- 52.How do I register a patent to ensure my business owns the intellectual property created by a consultant or freelancer?
- 53.How do I stop consultants and freelancers from misusing my business's patentable inventions?
Inventions commissioned from another business
- 54.Who can patent things invented as part of work I have bought, outsourced or commissioned?
- 55.What can I do to ensure my business owns any patents created by commissioned businesses?
- 56.How do I include appropriate clauses in contracts to ensure my business owns patentable inventions created by commissioned businesses?
- 57.How do I register a patent to ensure my business owns it when created by a commissioned business?
- 58.How can I ensure that commissioned businesses do not misuse my company's patentable inventions?
Monitoring for patent use without permission or for similar inventions
- 59.How do I know if my patent rights have been infringed?
- 60.How do I monitor for someone using my patent without permission?
- 61.Can I hire someone else to monitor for someone using my patent without my permission?
- 62.What should I do if I discover that someone else is using my patent without my permission?
- 63.How do I monitor for inventions which are similar to mine?
- 64.Can I hire someone else to monitor for inventions which are similar to mine?
- 65.What should I do if I discover that someone is using an invention that is similar to mine?
Consultancy agreement
A consultancy agreement is a contract explaining the legal relationship between a self-employed consultant and their client. It sets out the terms and conditions around the consultant’s services and the expectations and responsibilities of both parties. It might also be referred to as a freelance contract, a consultancy contract or a consulting agreement. Use this template if you are: a business engaging a consultant who is providing services through their limited company; a business engaging a consultant who is providing services as a sole trader or through a partnership; a freelance consultant providing services through a limited company; or a freelance consultant providing services as a sole trader or through a partnership. Although it’s not a legal requirement, using a formal, written contract for consultancy services will help to ensure that all parties are on the same page about the services being provided. This consultancy agreement will provide your business with valuable legal protections whether you are acting as a consultant or engaging a consultant, including in relation to your confidential information and intellectual property.
£25 + VAT
Employment contract
An employment contract sets the legal terms of employment between an employee and the employer. This includes salary, hours of work and responsibilities and duties. It might also be referred to as a contract of employment or employment agreement. Use this employment contract to hire a junior or senior employee in a permanent or temporary role. Note that this employment contract is not suitable for hiring annualised hours employees or part-year workers. It’s important to use proper contracts when hiring new employees to comply with the law and to protect your business. This contract contains all of the information you’re legally required to give to new employees in writing about their terms of employment and it’s fully customisable to your individual requirements and the role. It also contains key clauses to protect your business during the course of the employment relationship, including to safeguard your intellectual property and confidential information.
£25 + VAT
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