The big difference between U.S. and European patents, is that the European patent office does a long research, which usually takes about 6 months, before granting a patent. A patent that is granted by the Europian patent office is valid in all countries of the Europian Union, but some countries also have national patent offices, some do less secure research about patents.
A U.S. patent is granted very easily, but can also be attacked very easy.
On the other hand, if the E.P.O. grants a patent it is almost impossible to attack it.
The holder of a patent receives a monopoly on a technology for the first year after the patent is granted. If the patentholder decides to use the patent commercially within this year, this monopoly is extended for the duration of the patent. If he doesn't do this, he *must* let others also use the technology, allthough he remains the owner of the patent.
In general the European patent system seems to work better than the U.S. system. There are no stupid issues about patents on hyperlinks here.
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That's back to 2.4.6ac5 for me...
The big difference between U.S. and European patents, is that the European patent office does a long research, which usually takes about 6 months, before granting a patent. A patent that is granted by the Europian patent office is valid in all countries of the Europian Union, but some countries also have national patent offices, some do less secure research about patents. A U.S. patent is granted very easily, but can also be attacked very easy. On the other hand, if the E.P.O. grants a patent it is almost impossible to attack it. The holder of a patent receives a monopoly on a technology for the first year after the patent is granted. If the patentholder decides to use the patent commercially within this year, this monopoly is extended for the duration of the patent. If he doesn't do this, he *must* let others also use the technology, allthough he remains the owner of the patent. In general the European patent system seems to work better than the U.S. system. There are no stupid issues about patents on hyperlinks here.