Artillery Shell
Company C has developed a new type of artillery shell that can fly further than other shells due to its shape. It is new and inventive.
Question: Can such a shell be patented?
Laboratory Animals
A pharmaceutical start-up is developing a new and inventive process in which thousands of laboratory animals must be sacrificed to obtain an active ingredient, even though only small quantities of the drug can be produced in the end.
Question: Can this process be patented?
Surveillance system
A company develops a new surveillance system that could be used both in public spaces for counterterrorism and for total surveillance of citizens. It is technically new and inventive.
Question: Can such a system be patented?
Euthanasia of Animals
Pharmaceutical company D has developed a new drug that was originally intended for the painless euthanasia of animals. However, initial tests abroad showed that the substance could also be used to execute humans. The company now wants to patent the invention, citing possible applications in euthanasia.
Question: Can the drug be patented?
Fluffy Fur
Company E has "bred" genetically modified cats that have particularly fluffy fur and could therefore be very popular as pets. The genetic modification is new and inventive. The company now wants to patent these animals in order to secure an exclusive market.
Question: Can such genetically modified cats be patented?
Safe
Company F has developed a new type of safe that, in addition to particularly resistant materials, is also equipped with an integrated automatic firing device to give burglars no chance. The design is technically new and inventive. The company would like to patent this invention in order to secure a lead in the security technology market.
Question: What could stand in the way of patenting?
Dog Leash
Company G has developed a new type of dog leash that is equipped with an electric pulse. If the dog disobeys, it receives electric shocks that cause pain and are intended to force it to obey. The leash is technically new and inventive. The company would like to apply for a patent for it.
Question: What could stand in the way of patenting?
Stem Cells
A researcher develops a process for obtaining nerve cells from human embryonic stem cells that could be used to treat neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's. The invention is scientifically groundbreaking, new, and inventive. The researcher applies for a patent and wants to secure exclusive rights to this technology.
Question: What could stand in the way of patenting?
Genetic Modification
A biotech company has developed a novel process for treating people through targeted genetic modifications. The aim is to correct defective genes in the genome in order to permanently cure serious hereditary diseases. The technology is scientifically new, inventive, and could lead to major medical advances. The company wants to apply for a patent for this process in order to secure an exclusive position in gene therapy.
Question: What could stand in the way of patenting?
Genetic Defects
A medical technology company is developing a method that can be used to determine at an early stage whether an embryo has certain genetic defects or diseases. A typical use case would be that abortion is considered if the test result is positive. The method is technically new and inventive, and the company wants to apply for a patent for it in order to secure its market position.
Question: What could stand in the way of patenting?