Utility Models, Petty Patents & Innovation Patents: Efficient IP Protection For SMEs

For small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs), patent protection can be complex and costly. And yet, for many of them, patent protection is a must to maintain their competitive edge. A fast and cheap option for protecting mechanical inventions, products, and in some cases compositions are utility models, also often called “petty patents” or “innovation patents”.

Utility models are similar to patents in that they provide an exclusive right to prevent unauthorized commercial use of the invention for a period of time. The period of protection for utility models is shorter; typically 7 to 10 years, which cannot be extended or renewed. As such utility models are ideal for products with an anticipated short commercial life.