Patents – Common Pitfalls And How To Avoid Them – Chapter II

Here we are with the second chapter of this short essay on the most common pitfalls related to patents which ran across during our activity as consultants; as in the first chapter, we will list the pitfalls and try to provide some indications and food for thought to try to avoid them or at least limit their consequences.

B1) Confusing patentability with freedom to operate

Many people think that if they obtain a patent on a certain technical solution, they can freely use that technical solution.

A patent gives the applicant an exclusive monopoly on a certain technical solution, therefore the right to prevent third parties from using it or profiting from it, but it does not guarantee that that technical solution will not interfere with third party patents.