Information for Inventors

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Information for Inventors

Take advantage of our expertise!

With our free expert information for inventors, we are the first point of contact for inventors. This service is available to students, founders, start-ups, employees, tradespeople, and DIY enthusiasts. In short, anyone who might have invented something and who now has many questions.

Is my idea new?
How do I protect my idea?
How good is my invention?
How do I market my idea?
Where can I find further help and funding?
How much will it cost?

Free initial consultation and expert advice

The expert information for inventors session is a one-time, one-hour introductory briefing on potential inventions and their protection options. It takes into account the economic environment and includes advice on strategic approaches, as well as the provision of further contacts and funding opportunities. This service does not constitute legal advice. It provides information on patents and utility models for technical inventions. Design protection law applies to aesthetic designs. You can also learn about trademarks, copyright, and related rights.

What can be patented?

Only technical developments that are new, based on an inventive step, and are capable of industrial application can be protected by a patent. An invention is only new if it has not yet been published. Therefore, the invention should generally remain secret until a patent application has been filed. Prior publication of any kind, even accidental, should therefore be avoided.

Why is a patent search important?
An inventive step exists if it is not obvious to a person skilled in the art from the prior art prior to the patent application. Therefore, careful research should be conducted to determine whether this invention already exists before filing a patent or utility model application.

In which countries can and should one apply for protection?
One usually focuses on the largest sales markets for the invention and the manufacturing countries of competitors. The countries in which one applies for protection should be discussed individually with the patent attorney.

How can a patent be commercially exploited?

A patent is a „temporary monopoly.“ The patent applicant receives the right to benefit from their invention for a specific period of time—in Germany, a maximum of 20 years. The invention is published 18 months after the patent application. Annual patent fees are payable, which increase the longer the patent is maintained. A patent can be commercially exploited by manufacturing and selling the product protected by the invention yourself. Or, one can allow third parties to manufacture or sell the protected product, thereby receiving licensing income. The patent can also be sold in its entirety.

What should you consider when looking for a cooperation partner?
Before engaging in discussions with potential partners, it’s important to clarify the extent to which information should be disclosed or kept secret. For illustrative purposes, it’s advisable to demonstrate the functionality of the invention with a prototype. Professional research on novelty and reports from independent experts on commercial exploitation potential can also be helpful.