🚂 Get on board! How a ‘patent application’ transforms into a Patent?

🚂 How does a "patent application" become a Patent?

Hop on the train and discover the key stages to obtaining a patent! 🚆💡

Do you remember our #iPWhistles 4? We talked about how to turn an invention into a patent. But… what does the patent office do from the moment we file the application until the patent is granted? 🎟️🔍 Let’s find out!

🚉 Day Zero: All Aboard!

The day we file a patent application is an important date—it’s our day zero. From here, a journey begins with several key stops. Are you ready?

🚉 First Stop: 🔎 "The Search"

The patent office conducts a prior art search to check if the invention has been described before. Why? Because to be granted a patent, an invention must be:

✅ New – It must not have been published before.
✅ Inventive – It must not be an obvious improvement for an expert in the field.

The examiner reviews documents and issues a report with their opinion on the patentability of the invention. This gives us an idea of the chances of obtaining the patent. 🚀📜

📌 Stay tuned for more details on these criteria in another #iPWhistles!

🚉 Second Stop: 🌍 "Around the World"

Patents are territorial 🌍. A Spanish patent only provides protection in Spain, so if we want coverage in other countries, we need to apply for patents there.

📆 From day zero, we have 12 months to decide in which countries we want to protect our invention.

💰 Extending protection to other countries involves costs, so making a strategic choice is crucial. At Hexagon iP, we help you optimize your protection and resources. 📈

🚉 Third Stop: 📢 "The Publication"

The patent system is a trade-off:
📢 You share your invention with the world,
⚖️ And in return, you get a 20-year monopoly.

🗓️ 18 months after day zero, the patent application is published. This allows others to learn from it, improve upon it, and continue driving innovation.

🚉 Fourth Stop: 🧐 "The Examination"

At this stage, the patent office reviews whether the invention meets the patentability requirements.

📌 If issues are found, the office sends notifications to the applicant.

➡️ We can respond with arguments or modify the application.

Patent offices sometimes request overly strict limitations. Having a patent professional by your side makes all the difference! 👊

🚉 Final Stop: 🏁 "The Grant"

We made it! 🎉 If everything goes well, the patent is granted. But… there’s still more to explore in future #iPWhistles 🤫

⌛ From day zero to grant, it typically takes about 3 years, but don’t worry—your protection starts from day zero. Depending on your strategy, you may want to speed up or slow down the process.

📞 Haven’t contacted us yet? At Hexagon iP, we guide you through this process successfully. 🚀

🙌 Thanks for traveling with us!

We hope to see you again for the next episode of #iPWhistles See you on the next intellectual property adventure! 🚆🔬💙