PATENTS
A German Patent contains a new, not yet published invention for the solution of a technical "problem" and is applicable commercially. E.g. machines and equipment, food, luxury and pharmaceutical articles, chemical methods and products, agricultural methods, improvements on a technical field and microbiological methods and their application, can be patented. It is applied for at the German Patent Office in Munich. The maximum protection duration of a German patent is 20 years.
A European Patent contains the same equipment, methods and products as a German patent. With the European patent one can attain protection in more than 35 European states at the moment. It is applied for at the European Patent Office. The maximum protection duration of a European patent also is 20 years.
An international Patent also contains the same equipment, methods and products as in the case of the two previous patent types. With the registration of an international patent one can attain protection in more than 140 states worldwide at the moment. The international Patent is applied for at the WIPO, a national or a regional patent office. The maximum protection duration of the international patent determines according to the respective national right.
A European Patent contains the same equipment, methods and products as a German patent. With the European patent one can attain protection in more than 35 European states at the moment. It is applied for at the European Patent Office. The maximum protection duration of a European patent also is 20 years.
An international Patent also contains the same equipment, methods and products as in the case of the two previous patent types. With the registration of an international patent one can attain protection in more than 140 states worldwide at the moment. The international Patent is applied for at the WIPO, a national or a regional patent office. The maximum protection duration of the international patent determines according to the respective national right.