Whether you're a freelance professional, an SME, a large engineering firm, a research institute, or a university, you've likely wondered how to make the most of the results of your R&D efforts and investments.
Developing technologies that are suitable for industrial application and offer solutions to technical problems of various kinds is not an easy task, nor is it within the reach of anyone who does not devote a significant amount of resources (in terms of training, time, and funding).On the other hand, even if you do not wish to directly commercialize the results of your research but rather intend to use them exclusively to carry out your own business activities, it is sometimes difficult to keep a particular technology secret, since competitors can easily gain access to it simply by analyzing your products through reverse engineering.Therefore, in the course of your research activities, you may find it necessary to patent your technology to protect your developments from unauthorized exploitation by third parties.And this is where the role of the patent attorney becomes particularly important.A patent agent—and specifically a European patent agent—is a person with a background in science and/or engineering who is able to speak the same language as a company’s R&D teams, understand the core of each technological development, and identify where protection should be focused.Furthermore, a patent attorney is someone with legal training in patent law who understands the nuances and risks involved in the patent application process before the relevant national or regional patent office and is capable of providing advice to ultimately secure the desired protection for the technology.A patent agent can intervene in opposition proceedings against third-party patents or defend your patent when a competitor opposes it, navigating with ease through complex proceedings where technical and legal factors are of paramount importance.Likewise, a patent agent can work closely with attorneys in invalidity proceedings where the validity of a patent is at issue, or in infringement proceedings where a technical-legal opinion is required regarding the merits of the alleged infringing acts.For this reason, if you want to successfully implement your strategy for protecting the technology you have developed, it is always a good idea to seek the advice of a patent attorney.
Bosco de la Vega, Associate at ELZABURU.