Fast-track patents for eco-friendly inventions - May 2009

In a recent article we featured an online store GREENERY selling eco-friendly products along with their stylish COMPOCAN composting bin.

In spite of the current economic climate, business is still booming due to the current interest in ‘green’ issues. Greenery have therefore been able to invest substantially in research and development of their products and have now invented a new and more efficient composting system.

Once more they ask their trade mark attorney to carry out trade mark searches to make sure they choose a name that no-one else has registered. As a result they choose the name SPEEDOCOMP for the new system. Greenery are delighted to discover that due to recent changes at the Community Trade Mark Office they can apply to register their new mark at a significantly reduced cost. The fees have been reduced by 40% since May 1st 2009. This means it has never been cheaper to protect yourself against copycat brands in all 27 countries of the EU. In light of the current global economic environment, this reduction could not have come at a better time and will make the whole process a lot more affordable for small to medium businesses.

Before disclosing their new system to anyone, Greenery consult their patent attorney who advises them to make sure they keep their invention a  secret until they have considered whether to file a patent application. They are delighted to discover that on 12th May an initiative was launched to enable inventions with an environmental benefit to be given priority within the patent system.

This initiative offers innovative UK businesses working in green technologies the chance to get high-quality patent rights faster than ever before.

Patents are granted for inventions that are new and not obvious. It is not possible to obtain a patent for an idea which is already known. Greenery’s patent attorney arranges for searches to be carried out to ensure that no-on else has previously thought of the idea behind the new composting system. Greenery are delighted when the searches do not find anything remotely similar to their invention. Their patent attorney then prepares a patent application.

Once the application has been filed, along with a statement that the invention has environmental benefit, the United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office are able to confirm that the application qualifies for fast-track processing, and the application is passed to a technically qualified Examiner. It could take only nine months to get a patent granted under this scheme, compared with the current average time of two-three years.

The green patents initiative is intended to make it easier and faster for new ‘green’ products to reach the market. Our eco-friendly company are now able to show their invention to prospective manufacturers safe in the knowledge that they have done everything they can to ensure they have protection against anyone stealing their idea.

Dummett Copp specialise in both Patents and Trade Marks. If you have a trade mark which you would like to register and protect and would like to take advantage of the substantial reduction in fees, or if you would like more information on applying for a patent for your invention then please get in touch with us on 01473 660600.

Originally published in the Suffolk Business Magazine, May 2009