Why protect your solution with a utility model
A lower threshold for protection. You do not need to show an inventive step. It is enough that the solution is new and useful – which is why a utility model protects improvements for which a patent would be out of reach.
A shorter route to protection. Proceedings are usually shorter and cheaper than for a patent, so you obtain an enforceable right sooner.
A full exclusive right. The protection right works like a patent: a competitor may not make or sell an object with your solution without your consent.
Protection matched to your product. Ten years of protection is often as long as the market life of a product, an accessory or the next version of a device.
Protection for up to
10 years
Shape · construction · combination
protection of technical solutions in objects
What a utility model can protect
A utility model protects a new and useful technical solution concerning the shape, construction or combination of an object with a permanent form. In practice – how a thing is built and how that makes it work better.
Hand tools
A new handle shape that reduces hand fatigue.
Machine parts
Simpler fastening of parts that shortens assembly.
Packaging
A closure that can be opened with one hand.
Furniture and fittings
A structure that folds without tools.
Accessories and holders
A holder mounted without drilling.
Building elements
A joint that speeds up laying.
What a utility model does not protect
manufacturing methods and technological processes
→ patent
substances, mixtures and chemical compounds
→ patent
computer programs
→ patent (in certain cases) or copyright
the appearance of a product alone, without a technical function
→ industrial design
solutions without a permanent form, such as liquids or powders
→ patent
Choosing the form of protection
Utility model or patent?
Both forms protect technical solutions. The choice depends on how innovative the solution is, what it concerns and how long it should give you an advantage.
Utility model
Choose a utility model when:
the solution concerns the shape or construction of an object
it is useful but not groundbreaking
you want faster and cheaper protection
the product has a shorter life cycle
Patent
Choose a patent when:
you are protecting a process, a substance or an electronic circuit
the solution involves a clear inventive step
you want protection for up to 20 years
you plan broad expansion abroad
Both forms
Consider both when:
the product combines a key technology with simpler improvements
different elements of the product can be protected differently, according to their value
you want to build a protection portfolio rather than a single right
What the service includes
We handle your utility model from assessing the solution to maintaining protection:
We assess the solution
- we check whether it qualifies for a utility model or is better protected by a patent or an industrial design
- we search the prior art to assess novelty
We prepare the application
- description, claims and technical drawings
- we draft the claims to cover the broadest scope that can be defended
We handle the proceedings at the Polish Patent Office
- we respond to the office’s requests and objections until the protection right is granted
We maintain protection
- we monitor deadlines and renewal fees throughout the term of protection
We defend your rights
- infringement and invalidation disputes, cease-and-desist letters
Who this service is for
Manufacturers and SMEs
You protect the improvements that set your product apart before competitors copy them.
Designers and engineering offices
You secure solutions developed for clients or build your own portfolio of rights for licensing.
Craftspeople and individual inventors
Have a practical idea for a better tool or accessory? A utility model is an accessible route to protection.
Companies launching new product versions
Each product generation brings small but valuable improvements. Protect them quickly, in step with your launches.
How to obtain a utility model right
01
Initial consultation
You show us the solution and tell us about the product. The conversation is confidential.
02
Assessment and search
We check whether the solution is new and whether a utility model is the right form of protection.
03
Preparing the application
We describe the solution, draft the claims and prepare the drawings.
04
Milestone
Filing at the Polish Patent Office
The filing date becomes the priority date. From then on you can safely show your product.
05
Proceedings before the office
The office examines the application. We respond to its requests and objections.
06
Milestone
Grant of the protection right
After the decision and payment of the fee, the right is entered in the register. We then monitor renewal fees.
We reply to enquiries within [X] working days.
How long a utility model takes and what it costs
A utility model is usually faster and cheaper to obtain than a patent. The exact time and cost depend on the solution and the course of the proceedings – after the initial consultation you receive a cost estimate.
How long it takes
Assessment and search [X] weeks
Preparing the application [X] weeks
Polish Patent Office proceedings to decision [X] months
Term of protection up to 10 years
What the cost consists of
Official fees – for filing and grant of the protection right
Our fees – for the assessment, documents and handling the proceedings
Renewal fees – for subsequent years of protection
We agree our fees before work begins. Small and medium-sized businesses can check whether they qualify for SME Fund support.
Protection abroad
Utility models abroad
Unlike patents, there is no European or EU-wide utility model. Protection is obtained separately in the countries that provide for it. You have 12 months to extend the application abroad while keeping priority.
Where it is possible
Utility models or similar forms of protection exist in Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Spain, Italy, China and Japan, among others. The application can also be directed to these countries via the PCT procedure.
Where it is not
Utility models are not available in the USA or the UK, among others. There, technical solutions are protected by patents.
Planning to sell in many markets? Let’s talk about whether a patent would be the better choice. Patents abroad →
Who will handle your application
Utility models are handled by the same patent attorneys as inventions – engineers who understand the design before they start describing it.
–
Coordinator
[Name and surname]
Patent attorney · [field]
[e-mail] · [phone]
[X]
utility models filed per year
[X]
attorneys in our technical teams
50+ years
of practice in industrial property protection
Frequently asked questions about utility models
Related services
Inventions (patents)
Protection for up to 20 years for solutions with an inventive step.
Industrial designs
Protection of a product’s appearance: shape, colour, texture.
Patent searches
Check the novelty of your solution before you file.
Want to protect your solution with a utility model?
Briefly describe what you have improved. A patent attorney will assess whether a utility model is the right form of protection and suggest the first step. The conversation is confidential.
Direct contact
[Area coordinator]
[phone] · [e-mail]
Please do not include technical details – we will discuss them during the consultation.