What is Utility Model

  • A utility model is a type of intellectual property right, often called a "petty" or "short-term" patent that protects minor technical inventions like useful improvements to existing products. It provides a more affordable and faster alternative to a full patent, with less stringent requirements for inventiveness. Unlike a standard patent, a utility model can be granted more quickly because some countries do not examine it for novelty before granting it, though this can mean a weaker guarantee of validity.
  • Key Aspects of Utility Model:-
  • Purpose:-To protect inventions that is useful improvements to existing products, such as new technical devices or apparatus.
  • Requirements:- The invention must be new and have industrial applicability. The "inventive step" requirement is less stringent than for a full patent.
  • Duration: - The term is significantly shorter than a standard patent, often lasting 10 years,
  • Process: - It is generally cheaper and faster to obtain than a patent.

Utility Model Sample Document