Intellectual Property Rights > Patent Documents

Overview Slides Summary Questions Media Notes

Back to Lecture

DE-A1

A company finds the reference “DE ... A1” on the cover page of a patent document. It assumes that this is a valid German patent. The team now wants to check whether it needs to restrict its product development.

Question: What does the document code “A1” mean, and what does the start-up need to consider now?

AT-B4

A mechanical engineer comes across a patent document with the designation “AT ... B4.” He knows that this patent was filed years ago, but cannot tell from the document whether it is still valid today.

Question: What steps are now necessary to find out?

Patent sold?

An engineer discovers an entry on the cover page of a patent specification that names another company as the applicant. However, he has since heard that this patent is said to have been sold.

Question: What does the document actually say about the owner, and how can the current owner be determined?

Obstacle to Market Entry?

A founder wants to check whether a patent still provides protection. She finds the filing date 2001 on the cover page. Her product is scheduled to be launched in 2026.

Question: Can this information be used to determine whether the patent is an obstacle to market entry?

Significance of Drawings

A development engineer sees several drawings and a short summary in a patent specification. He wonders whether this already defines exactly what is protected.

Question: What can be deduced from the drawings and summary, and what needs to be done to determine the scope of protection?

EP-A2

A company has found a European patent document with the code “EP ... A2.” Management is unsure whether this already constitutes an effective property right and whether a license is required.

Question: What does this code mean, and what are the consequences for the company's current decision?

Relevant Patent?

A company finds a patent document with a filing date in 2010 and a grant date in 2015 on the cover page. Their product is scheduled to be launched in 2026.

Question: Can this information be used to determine whether the patent is an obstacle to market entry? If not, what information should be obtained to gain more clarity?

Start-up

A start-up comes across a competitor's patent specification. The development team recognizes the technical description and is surprised that the patent resembles their own product in some respects.

Question: How can you find out what the patent actually protects?