A Comparative Analysis of the Utility Model Patent Systems in Europe and China
Creating a “model” utility model patent system A comparative analysis of the utility model patent systems in Europe and China WWW. IPKEY.ORG Creating a “model” utility model patent system: A comparative analysis of the utility model patent systems in Europe and China Dan Prud’homme December 2014 Abstract: Although it is difficult to create an optimal “model” of the exact types of every aspect of every country’s utility model patent system, this study illustrates that it is possible to create a useful legal, policy, and institutional framework based upon an understanding of the statutory, procedural, and institutional composition of utility model systems in Austria, China, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, and Italy; reasons behind the composition, including any revisions to, these systems; and usage of the systems. It also briefly discusses relevant experiences of Belgium and the Netherlands. Keywords: utility model patent systems, comparative analysis, Europe, China, substantive law, procedural law, institutions, patent quality, innovation ABOUT THIS STUDY, AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This study is part of an ongoing activity on utility model patent (hereafter abbreviated as “utility model”) systems under the “IP Key” Project (short for “Intellectual Property: A Key to Sustainable Competiveness”) – a three-year project with multiple activities every year, running from 2013-2016. The project is funded by the European Commission and the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM), and implemented by OHIM with support from the European Patent Office (EPO). It serves as the vehicle for implementing the Administration Agreement on the New EU-China Cooperation on Intellectual Property signed in July 2013 between the European Union and the Government of the People’s Republic of China.
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