Whether you are an independent professional, an SME, a large engineering company, a research institute or a university, you will surely have considered how to take advantage of the results of your efforts and investments in R&D.
Reaching technological developments that can be industrially applicable and that offer solutions to technical problems of various categories is not an easy task or within the reach of anyone who does not dedicate a large amount of resources (training, time and financing).On the other hand, and even if you do not want to directly market the fruit of your research, but instead want to take advantage of it alone to carry out your economic activity, sometimes it is difficult to keep a certain technology secret, since the competition can easily access it. from the mere analysis of your sales products through reverse engineering.Therefore, in the course of your research activities, you may experience the need to patent your technology to protect your developments from exploitation by third parties without your consent.And this is where the figure of the patent agent becomes especially important.The patent agent and, specifically the European patent agent, is a person with scientific and/or engineering training, capable of speaking the same language as the R&D teams of companies, understanding where the core of each technological development and where protection must be focused.Likewise, the patent agent is someone with legal training in patent law, who knows the particularities and dangers involved in the process of processing a patent before the corresponding national/regional patent office, and is capable of advising to finally obtain the protection sought for technology.The patent agent can intervene in opposition processes to third-party patents, or defend your patent when a competitor opposes it, operating with ease in complex processes where technical and legal factors take on capital importance.Likewise, the patent agent can work in close collaboration with lawyers, in judicial nullity proceedings where the validity of a patent is resolved, or in judicial infringement proceedings where a technical-legal opinion is required on the merits of the patent. the allegedly infringing acts.For this reason, if you want to successfully carry out your strategy to protect the technology that you have developed, it will always be a good idea to have the advice of a patent agent.
Bosco de la Vega, Associate at ELZABURU.
