1. Patents :

1.1 Kinds :

The kinds of protection are :

- Patents of invention, having a duration of 20 years from filing date, and
- "Utility Certificates", having a duration of 6 years from filing date.

1.2 Requirements for filing :

Either for a patent or for a Utility Certificate, the requirements for filing are :

- specification, claims and drawings if any, on ordinary paper ; we need an English translation of the text, on the basis of which we will draw up the translation into French
- identification of the name, address and nationality of the applicant(s).

The name and personal address of the inventor can be supplied later, within a 16-month deadline from filing date or priority date if any.

No power of attorney is needed and no legalized or notarized documents are demanded.

1.3 Examination :

For a patent, an official patentability search must be carried out, the deadline to request this patentability search being 18 months from filing date or priority date, if any.

If relevant prior art is disclosed, the applicant must reply to the search report within a three months deadline, either for discussing the prior art or for amending the claims.

The patentability examination carried out by the French patent office is only a novelty examination, the criterium of "invented step" being not examined.

For a Utility Certificate, no patentability search is made.

1.4 Issuance - Renewal fees :

An issuance fee must be paid, and renewal fees are to be paid each year before the end of the months containing the anniversary date of the filing.

2. Designs :

- Drawings or 3D ornemental shapes can be protected.

- The duration of the protection is 25 years from filing date.

- Only good quality drawings or photographs can be filed, either in colour or in black and white.

- No power of attorney is needed and no legalized or notarized documents are demanded.

3. Trademarks :

- Can be protected any sign susceptible of graphic representation, which is distinctive with respect to the designated goods or services.

- The duration is ten years from filing date, indefinitively renewable for further periods of ten years.

- For the filing, we need to the representation of the sign to be protected and the list in French or English of the goods and services.

- No power of attorney is needed and no legalized or notarized documents are demanded.