Property rights glossary

Regular fee for the maintenance of a patent or utility model.

Former term for design application.

Application for a technical property right at the respective patent office, similar to a patent, but without substantive examination.

Notification by the Office of the (interim) result of the substantive examination of an application.

Clients are persons or companies who use the services of a service provider – typically a lawyer, tax advisor, auditor

Uniform design protection in the EU.

Appeals against decisions of the Patent or Trademark Office.

Procedure for contesting a registered trademark (DE) or published trademark application (EU) within a certain period of time.

Application for protection of the external design of a product (e.g. shape, color, pattern).

Specialized attorney for design protection, in particular for the registration, enforcement and defense of design rights.

Former term for design protection.

Designation of the inventor or inventors vis-à-vis the Patent Office.

Professional representative before the European Patent Office, advising and representing clients in European patent proceedings.

EPC stands for European Patent Convention. It is a treaty under international law that forms the basis for the European

EPO stands for European Patent Office. It is the central authority of the European Patent Organization and is responsible for

Representative authorized to represent clients before the EUIPO in trademark and design law at European level.

EUIPO stands for European Union Intellectual Property Office. It is the EU’s central authority for the registration and administration of

Formal request to initiate the official examination procedure. A patent grant requires the successful completion of the examination procedure.

DPMA stands for German Patent and Trade Mark Office. It is the central state authority in Germany for the protection

Design protection in several countries via the Hague Design Convention (WIPO).

Trademark protection in several countries via the Madrid system (WIPO).

Strategic management of intellectual property to secure, utilize and exploit intangible company assets.

Synonym for annual fee or renewal fee – official fee required to maintain protection.

Joint application of several designs in a bundled design application. This reduces the costs for the application.

Official or court proceedings to review the legal status of a property right.

Procedure for challenging a granted patent within a certain period after the patent has been granted.

The patent application corresponds to the formal application for protection of a technical invention at the patent office and requires

The patent claims define the scope of protection of a patent.

Legal protection for a technical invention for up to 20 years. Prevents unauthorized use by third parties.

An industrial property right is a legally granted exclusive right to use an intellectual creation or technical invention. It protects

Observation of third-party property rights to avoid collisions.

Public register of registered property rights (e.g. patent register, trademark register, design register).

Fee for the renewal of trademark or design protection after expiry of the term of protection / protection period.

Examination of novelty and existing property rights (e.g. through a patent search).

Legal regulations on the recognition and remuneration of inventors, in particular in relation to the employer.

Formal request to carry out an official search.

Application for protection of a sign (e.g. name, logo) to identify certain goods and/or services.

Property right that prohibits the use of a trademark by third parties without consent. Indefinitely renewable.

Common court for disputes concerning European patents and unitary patents.

System for simplifying patent protection in the EU through the unitary patent.

Uniform trademark protection in all EU member states through a single application to the EUIPO.

Patent with unitary effect in the participating EU member states, based on a European patent.

Abbreviation for “Unified Patent Court”.

Property right for technical inventions (except processes) for up to 10 years. Faster and cheaper than a patent, but unexamined.

WIPO stands for World Intellectual Property Organization. It is a specialized agency of the United Nations based in Geneva that