Inventions and Utility Models
Free consultation

Inventions and Utility Models in Russia

Think of the names Thomas Edison, Steve Jobs, Henry Ford, James Watt and Guglielmo Marconi and you think of inventions which changed the world. But did you know that in each instance, they were not the first to create that with which their name has become synonymous? Joseph Swan (lightbulb), Bill Gates(tablet computer), Karl Benz (motorcar), Thomas Newcomen (steam engine) and Russia’s very own Alexander Stepanovich Popov (radio) came before them.

These are just a few examples of the turbulent world of intellectual property. So why do some inventors succeed where others fail? Why did their ‘invention’ stick whilst others disappeared?

Put simply, they were the first to register and protect that invention with a patent. A patent successful prevents others from stealing, copying and making money from your ‘intellectual property’.

 Invention

So, you have an invention? The first thing you must do is protect it. Here, the law is essential to your success. But why? With a successful patent comes protection. It means no one can sell or manufacture your invention unless you allow it.

There are complex waters which need navigating to be successfully granted a patent. What protection do you need? Where do you want it to be protected? Is my invention patentable? So many questions, but can you provide all the answers? It would be foolish not to utilise the skills and experience of experts such as Prof-patent to guide you.

In addition, the worlds of innovation and business have become more competitive. Today, we are more likely to see instances of small incremental improvements of existing designs than an entirely new invention. Take the ‘smartphone’ as an example, ubiquitous today but only 40 years ago the ‘mobile phone’ was revolutionary. But how many iterations have there been since that first brick-sized device? SMS, MMS, cameras, processors, operating systems, touch screens, haptics, GPS and waterproofing. Each and every new improvement protected with a specific individual patent.

As most ‘inventions’ these days are not completely new, the law offers a solution which is less arduous to achieve than a full patent, but may serve you just as well. The ‘Utility model’ in the Russian Federation can be described as a ‘second-class patent.’It offers you similar rights but with less stringent requirements than a full ‘patent’. It is available for a maximum 10-year term (as opposed to a 20-year patent term), and excludes certain classes of invention such as animal or plant culture, substance or micro-organism. But there is no substantive examination procedure and this means there is much less delay from application to granting of the Utility model patent in the Russian Federation.

 Utility

Again, this is where Utility model protection requires expert guidance. If the application for the Utility model is not executed correctly then protection will not be provided if prosecution or litigation is ever instigated. In addition to this, if the patent has already been granted to another or the invention is already for sale or known, then no patent (Utility model or otherwise) will offer protection. It is these pitfalls which make it an absolute necessity to engage with a patent attorney. They can advise you which patent is in your best interests to apply for. They can carry out a preliminary patent search to ensure your invention is patentable. They can do this all with unclouded judgement that you, with a vested interest, may struggle to achieve. Their experience is valuable in dealing with these complex procedures.

After a patent or Utility model has been granted there are further considerations. Patent annual maintenance fees must be paid. Litigation may be needed to enforce against potential infringement. If you wish to licence your invention, contracts will need to be drawn up that ensure no unintended rights are conferred on the licensee.

The most challenging aspect is that you will not really know if the actions you undertook when making your initial application are correct until it is too late. The onus is on you to investigate your invention and frame your patent so that it falls within the confines of the law but you must do this at the very outset of the process. If you cannot enforce the patent due to any of the above reasons, then it will not be worth the paper it’s written on. Is it worth the risk?

The cost of registering inventions and utility models

Obtaining rights to an invention is a paid service. The costs to be paid by the applicant include:

Our Services
WORK STAGE COST (RUBLES)
INVENTIONS
Identifying the invention and conducting a patent search through databases 30 000
Writing a description formula and an abstract 20 000
Registration and filing of the application with the Federal State Budgetary Institution FIPS 12 000
State fee* for registration of application for an invention patent 577.50
Additional fee* for each claim over 10 122.50
State fee* for substantive examination of invention application when filing application and sending information search report before the expiration of 7 months from the date of satisfaction of the application*** 2187.50
Additional fee* for substantive examination of invention application for each independent claim over 1 *** 1690
Supporting the application and obtaining a patent 25 000
Fee* for the registration of an invention 525
Fee* for an invention patent 1 050
TOTAL for work on patenting the invention 87 000
TOTAL for work and state fees 107 878
UTILITY MODELS
Fee to a patent attorney for conducting a patent search 20 000
Writing and abstract fees 20 000
Fee for the execution of documents and registration of the application 12 000
Fee* for registration of application for a Russian Federation utility model patent 245
Fee* for substantive examination of utility model application and making a decision on its results 437.50
Fee for supporting the application during the examination stage. Preparation and sending responses (including justification of the applicant's position) to any requests and notifications of the patent office regardless of their number and complexity
Fee* for the registration of a utility model 525
Пошлина* за выдачу патента на полезную модель 1 050
TOTAL for work on the patenting of a utility model 67 000
TOTAL for work and state fees 69 257.50

* Paid in 5-7 days based on the results of the search
** Payable in approximately 6-12 months after a positive decision on registration
*** Fees include a 30% discount for the executor

 
**The fee is for FL, the fee is higher for CE.

***Or 822.50+490 for each independent claim over 1, but not more than 5 + 5400 for each independent claim over 5 (when filing a request for substantive examination after the application for patent registration and sending the information search report before the expiration of 12 months after the request is granted.
The price may be higher depending on the complexity of the subject matter.
Patent maintenance fee - payable beginning in the third year and continuing through the end of the registration period.
The maintenance of the patent is done by making annual payments. For inventions, the said patent maintenance fee is to be paid from the third year until the termination of legal protection (this term is 20 years with the possibility of extension for some inventions for another 5 years).
The fee for prolongation for 3 and 4 years is 850 rubles each, for 5 and 6 years - 1250 rubles each, etc.

 

 

Stages of registration for the official registration of a invention

 

Patenting inventions

image

The development of unique technical solutions can take many years and is accompanied by intellectual labor. Registration of an invention will help protect your own project from unauthorized use by others, the author or owner of the specified object can obtain a special document - a patent. The decision procedure for patenting a device is based on the results of verification of the application and the patentability features. Prof-Patent specialists will assist you with the documentation and the procedure of filing an application with the Federal Service for Intellectual Property, Patents and Trademarks.

Invention patent registration procedure

1. Conducting a patent search

A patent search is carried out to identify already registered similar technical projects. This step can be done independently, but it will require manual verification of a lot of information and data. This procedure can be considerably simplified and accelerated by contacting patent attorneys. These specialists have access to the registers and will perform all actions in the shortest possible time.


2. Drafting and filing a patent application

The application consists of: description, claims, abstract and drawings.
In order to register an invention it is necessary to properly draw up a patent application and send it to FIPS. The documents may be submitted by the right holder himself or by his representative by proxy. The application includes a description of the device and its claims, an abstract and drawings. Please note that mistakes in drafting the application and other supporting documents are one of the most common reasons for rejection by Rospatent.

3. Formal and substantive expertise

4. Registering and obtaining a patent for an invention

After the examination, in case of a positive answer, the object is registered in the register, information is published in the bulletin of Rospatent and a patent is issued to the applicant, after which the regime of legal protection of the invention is established.

It is possible to simultaneously submit an application for a domestic patent, as well as for registration of rights at the international level. In order to comply with all the requirements of legislative acts and international treaties, it is advisable to carry out all actions through attorneys.

Term of the patent

Registration of a patent for an invention secures the intellectual property rights of its owner for 20 years (25 years for some inventions), subject to timely payment of the annual state fee. If the right holder fails to pay the annual state fee, the patent will be suspended. The restoration of exclusive rights is allowed at the request of the right holder within three years - this document should be sent to the service of Rospatent. The amount of the fee for the restoration is calculated on the basis of the annual payment for the support of the patent, multiplied by 2.5 times.

Also, the patent is terminated from the moment of conclusion of the alienation agreement. In this case, the patent rights are transferred to a third party, which, in turn, will be able to dispose of the object and will be obliged to remit the annual fee.

What is required to register an invention

In order to patent an invention or innovative production method, the following attributes must be proven:

In order to confirm the listed features, a substantive examination will be carried out at the FIPS. However, even before applying to the patent office, it is necessary to make sure that the invention will not coincide with previously registered objects. For this purpose, a search is made through databases of intellectual property objects.

 

image

Documents for patent applications for inventions

A patent application for an invention may be registered in writing or electronically, and includes:

  1. a statement from the right holder or his/her representative;
  2. description of the technical solution;
  3. claims;
  4. abstract;
  5. graphic materials necessary to disclose the claims and the essence of the device.

The application form is approved by Order No. 316 of the Ministry of Economic Development, and verification of the requirements for completion will be verified at the examination stage.

The filing and registration of the application allows the priority of the invention to be established. This means that if similar applications are received from other persons, priority will be given to the previously submitted documents. For the whole period of consideration of documents and examination there will be a temporary legal protection, including at the international level (if the applicant at the same time indicates such a requirement).

Download the application form for patenting an invention

 

Patenting of a utility model

image

The possibility to establish the regime of intellectual property object protection in the Russian Federation applies to utility models, industrial designs and inventions. Registration of a patent for a utility model in Russia and abroad is possible upon confirmation of a number of obligatory features on the specified object. The availability of a patent allows to dispose of the rights under reimbursable or gratuitous contracts, as well as to hold other persons liable for illegal use of someone else's object.

Unlike copyright, the establishment of legal protection of a utility model is carried out in the framework of the registration procedure with the receipt of a patent.

To patent a utility model, the following rules must be taken into account:

  1. It is regarded as a technical solution relating to a device - unlike an invention, this solution cannot relate to a process or a process;
  2. In order to register the rights to the specified object, it is necessary to confirm the patentability characteristics, which include novelty and industrial applicability;
  3. In Russia, the application must be submitted to the authorized agency - FIPS (Federal Institute of Industrial Property), where the expert activities will be carried out.

The registration of the application can be done independently or through professional specialists - patent attorneys. The optimal option is representation through an attorney, as the search and preparation of the application documentation will go quickly and in strict compliance with the law.

Even before applying to the service of Rospatent (FIPS), it is necessary to check the patentability of the utility model. For this purpose, a search is made through databases of intellectual property objects. In the case of an independent search, this stage will drag on for many months, since all the information on similar technical solutions will have to be checked manually.

When contacting patent attorneys:

In order to register a utility model patent in Russia and abroad, it is necessary to compile and submit the application documentation to FIPS. The rules of drawing up and filing are regulated by the Order of the Ministry of Economic Development dated 30.09.2015 No. 701. The application may be filed not only by the author himself, but also by another person who acquired the rights legally (e.g., on the basis of an employment contract). Even after a patent is registered to another person or organization, the original authorship is not lost, since it is an inalienable right. 

The list of documents to be submitted to FIPS to obtain a patent:

Procedure for granting a patent

The procedure consists of the following stages:

  1. Registration of the application for a utility model - from this point, the priority will be established, which will allow to achieve legal protection for applications for similar projects;
  2. Formal examination - is conducted to confirm the completeness of the documents, as well as their compliance with legal requirements;
  3. Examination on the merits - confirmation of the patentability of the claimed subject matter;
  4. Making a decision on the results of expert actions - on registration of the patent or refusal to register it;
  5. Entering information about the patent and its owner in the registry, publication of the decision in the bulletin of the service of Rospatent;
  6. Patent issuance.

The examination of the application may be accompanied by inquiries from Rospatent specialists to the applicant. The final positive decision on registration of a utility model depends on the timeliness and correctness of the answer to the inquiries, as well as the terms of the procedure. When contacting a specialist, all these risks will be eliminated already at the stage of search and compilation of the application.

The period of registration of a utility model patent is significantly shorter than the duration of a similar procedure for an invention. The law allows, after filing an application for an invention, to reclassify it as an application for a utility model and vice versa, taking into account the term of legal protection and duration of expert actions, as well as the essential features of the object.

The period of consideration of an application for a utility model is short. In most cases, a certificate can be obtained in 6-12 months.

image

Validity period

After the granting of the patent, the rights protection regime for the utility model is established. The period of validity of the registration is 10 years, and its extension is not allowed. Within 10 years, the right holder can hold others liable for unlawful use.

In addition, within the specified period the legal owner of the object may execute an agreement on full assignment or conclude a license agreement. The price for compensatory alienation is determined by the right holder himself.

Renewal of a utility model patent

The validity of the patent must be confirmed annually by paying the state duty.

The fee for maintaining a patent is:

Early termination takes place in case of non-payment of the said fee, or upon the application of the right holder. The corresponding decision will be taken by the Rospatent service, and information about the cancellation of rights will be entered in the registry. The reinstatement of the registration is possible by filing a corresponding application within three years after the deadline for payment of the fee and its payment.

Infringement of rights to a utility model

The owner has exclusive rights to use and dispose of the utility model, which include:

image

For the use of someone else's intellectual property object without permission, the law provides for measures of protection, which can be used by the right holder. First of all, for each detected fact of illegal use of a patent, it is possible to send a demand to stop the infringement (e.g., a ban on the production of products using a utility model). A similar demand may be made if the terms of the license agreement are violated - by the territory of the patent use, by the terms and the amount of payments in favor of the owner.

The use of judicial remedies is governed by the following rules:

These protection measures may be applied within the duration of the patent.

Another category of cases is the dispute over the priority of patent applications. In this case, the similarity or dissimilarity of the submitted designs, the date of registration and other factors will be established.

Download the application form for a utility model patent

 
folder_open
Certified attorneys
Qualification verified and confirmed by Rospatent attestation. Eurasian and Russian Patent Attorney Certificates
landscape
Not a single
rejection
by the Patent Office for inventions, utility models or industrial designs.
person
Legal
protection
Not only registration, but also legal protection of your legitimate interests by our lawyers.
flash_on
The price is 15%
lower
than usual due to the rapid processing and the number of applications filed, as well as the experience and qualifications of patent attorneys.

Our reviews

Transneft Oil Pipeline Company
We have high internal standards of work and requirements for contractors. We were pleasantly surprised by the quality of work of this organization. They are very scrupulous in their work.
TUTKUKLA
Specialists of "Prof-Patent" helped us to deal firmly with the registration of our trademark. We were satisfied with the cooperation with this company!
ALFARUSELECTROMODEL
A high level of professionalism was demonstrated even at the stage of free verification of our trademark. The experience only got better and better. Everything was done in the shortest possible time.
Фитонцидная вытяжка
We turned to Prof-Patent to register a trademark with Rospatent. The specialists of the company treated our issue very seriously and attentively. We look forward to further fruitful cooperation.
Juviclinic
It was required to register a trademark as soon as possible. We decided to contact Prof-Patent and did not regret it. The work was completed on time and we received our registration certificate. If such services are needed again, we already know who to contact.
ASTIPIEL
Many thanks to the specialists from "Prof-Patent" for their professional attitude to their work. Cooperation with the company was at the highest level. Initially, they consulted on all aspects of the work, and in the process promptly answered all questions. We are glad that we turned here.
НОЦ ВКО "Алмаз-Антей"
We would like to express our gratitude to the specialists from the Prof-Patent company. Our task was completed extremely quickly and professionally. It is rare to find such a level of responsibility and dedication.
KRB
Very serious and responsible approach to business. "Prof-Patent" saved our nerves and time. We are extremely grateful to all employees of the company for their true professionalism. These guys are definitely perfectionists in the best sense of the word!
More reviews
Certificates and certificates
Contact Us

By clicking the "Submit" button, you agree to processing of personal data and agree to the terms of the privacy policy

Russia → Central Federal District → Moscow Region → Moscow
14 Shukhova St., Moscow
close
Contact Us

By clicking the "Submit" button, you agree to processing of personal data and agree to the terms of the privacy policy

.