Frequent questions
1. What conditions must a technical solution meet in order to be granted a utility model certificate?
In order to be granted a utility model certificate, the technical solution must be new, exceed the framework of mere professional skill and be susceptible of industrial application (art. 1 of Law no. 350/2007 on utility models, republished in 2014).
2. What can be protected as a utility model?
3. Can a process be protected as a utility model?
4. What is excluded from utility model protection?
5. What are the differences between the patent and the utility model?
6. What is meant by "exceeding the framework of mere professional skill"?
7. What documents must be submitted to OSIM for the registration of an invention as a utility model?
8. Do all documents filed with OSIM have to be signed or is it enough to just sign the application form?
9. When the applicant for the utility model is a legal person, who has the right to sign the documents?
10. When the applicant for the utility model is a legal entity, should the documents be stamped?
11. To what extent should the invention be described when filing the utility model application?
12. Are there any rules regarding the drafting of the documents accompanying the application for a utility model?
13. Wherefrom can the utility model application form be taken or downloaded ?
14. What are the costs (fees) for registering a utility model?
15. Is it possible to reduce fees?
16. What is the scope of the protection provided by a utility model certificate?
17. How long does a utility model last?
18. What is the search report?
19. Is it mandatory to publish the search report?
20. How do I determine if I should apply for a patent or a utility model?
21. Can a patent application be converted into a utility model application?
22. When can I apply for the conversion of a patent application into a utility model application?
23. Can a utility model application be converted into a patent application?