Patents are there to protect the rights of individuals who have been putting lots of hard work to bring something new to this world. Every other day we find markets being flooded with new products. New technology, new invention and new gadgets are constantly being developed.
A discoverer has to protect his concepts and idea from being stolen by someone else. And so patent is a necessity. In order to protect the rights of these discoverers patent was introduced. It has been helping several individuals, company’s and even countries that otherwise would have been at disadvantage. Since for a particular specified period the rights are completely exclusives so these inventors can use it for business purpose and can make fortunes.
Today each nation has their own patent office which is responsible for granting patents to the discoverer. The inventor is provided with an application form at the patent office; in the application form he has to furnish all the relevant details about his invention-the purpose and the usefulness of the discovery should be outlined exhaustively; the inventor may even be required to use illustrative diagrams to put forth his point.
An inventor needs to get in touch with a patent lawyer. These patent lawyers are authorized by the government and have got rights to help the applicant in patenting his product.
Different countries may have slightly different procedure but the central idea remains intact. Those desirous of obtaining patent are required to make their invention public. During the whole process the applicant can take the help of a patent lawyer.
In case of any disputes these patent lawyers represent their client at the patent office. In case of legal disputes which have crossed the national boundaries they can still represent their client if the governing body authorizes them to do so.
Different countries may lay down different requirements for an individual to become eligible for becoming a patent lawyer. The patent office has the list of discoveries which have been patented so far; it helps the discoverer to know whether the concept on which he has put his mind, body and soul is a new idea or is a stale idea.
Patents are of different types like chemical patent, biological patent, software patent business method patent, petty patent or innovation patent, design patent and plant patent.
Patents have also been the cause of major disputes. If the dispute is confined to a national boundary then the respective country’s patent office can intervene and take steps to protect the rights of the inventor. But when the disputer crosses the national boundaries then matter becomes too difficult to handle.
Understanding the complexities if international disputes, countries are making concerted efforts bring all patent laws under a single jurisdiction such as bringing it under the ambit of World Trade Organization.
Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property, European Patent Convention, European Patent Organization, and Patent Cooperation are some of the other international forums which are actively trying to ward off international disputes with regard to patents. If you are having any problem with patents hen do take help of the patent lawyers.