Our Services
From the idea to the product!
J-INVENT advises you in the execution of your patent strategy. This strategy includes not only the legal and technical aspects, but also your business goals.
Whether in terms of protection, defense, management or prosecution, J-INVENT is here to support you with a high degree of expertise.
J-INVENT supports you throughout the life of your invention through a multitude of different services:
The prior art search is a preliminary step in the process of filing a patent application that allows to identify a certain number of previous disclosures (patents, articles…) that could potentially compromise the patentability of your invention.
J-INVENT has access to professional databases that are much more powerful than the tools available for free (such as Google patents or the INPI patent database), and puts all its expertise to good use to offer you the most precise and relevant search possible.
This search is usually coupled with a patentability analysis.
Is your invention patentable, and if so, to what extent?
Before incurring expenses for drafting and filing a patent application, the patentability analysis helps to make the right choice.
The patentability analysis assesses whether your invention meets the requirements for obtaining a patent. Without it, you run the risk that your patent application will be refused by the INPI or the EPO for the grant of a European patent.
The patentability analysis also allows you to take stock of the potential strength of your patent and know in advance the various issues that could arise and how to solve them.
If you do not know the state of the art (or prior art) of your invention, J-INVENT can carry out a search for you beforehand (see “prior art search”) in order to be able to carry out the patentability analysis.
The Freedom to Operate (FTO) analysis allows you to analyze the patent rights that may cover your invention.
It is therefore extremely useful before marketing a product in order to ensure that you are not an infringer of an existing patent.
It is also useful during product development, to verify if you have a monopoly and to confirm that filing a patent application is the right strategic choice.
It can also be used to detect blocking patents and attempt to cancel them by filing an opposition (see "opposition proceedings").
In short, this analysis is extremely important if you want to hold all the cards to successfully launch your product and adopt an effective patent strategy!
Our services also cover:
Consultation on possible patent infringement. Consultations on all other points of patent law, such as employee inventions. Representation before the National Commission for Employee Inventions.
In order to adopt a truly effective patent strategy, it is important to always keep an eye on the competition thanks to the patent watch!
Indeed, a strategic patent watch (or "continuous technological watch") makes it possible to periodically check the patent applications published in your field and to verify that no third party is undermining your recently published or granted patent application in order to consider a strategy of defense or partnership approach.
Our services also cover:
Technical watch, Legal watch, Patent surveillance procedure by customs,
Awareness on patent law or specific aspects of this right, training, courses in Intellectual Property.
Patent portfolio study (Verification, Presentation of statements, Analysis of relevance). Evaluation of the price of your entire portfolio or of certain patents if sale transactions are planned.
Once the prior art (or state of the art) and the patentability of the invention have been assessed (see “prior art search” and “patentability analysis”), it is time to draft and file your patent application.
A patent is an intellectual property right that protects a technical innovation, that is to say a technical solution to a technical problem. It is an exclusive exploitation right which allows the patent holder to prohibit the exploitation by a third party of the invention covered by said patent. A patent is granted for a fixed period (20 years) and for a specific territory (France, Europe, USA…).
A patent is a kind of "contract" between the inventor and the state: In return for full disclosure of the invention to the public, the state grants an exclusive monopoly of use.
A patent application includes in particular:
- A specification which describes the invention in detail;
- Claims that define the scope of the sought protection;
- Drawings illustrating the various embodiments of the invention.
The patent application is drafted by taking into full account your goals and your filing strategy.
A poorly drafted patent is unusable: you will not be able to create value or take action against an infringer, hence the importance of entrusting its drafting to a professional.
Our services also cover:
Filing of patent applications in France and abroad by the various possible channels such as the PCT international application PCT, Validations of European patents in the designated states,
Preparation and filing of “e-Soleau envelopes”.
Préparation et dépôt d’enveloppes e-Soleau.
Once the patent application is filed, the patent is not automatically granted, there is still work to do!
Patent offices will examine whether the formal requirements are met and whether the patent application meets the substantive patentability requirements for the grant of a patent. In particular, the offices will carry out prior art searches and analyze the application filed under various criteria such as:
- is the invention sufficiently described?
- Is the invention new?
- Is the invention "inventive" (or "non-obvious")?
If the patent application does not meet all the formal and patentability criteria, the office will send an "official letter" explaining the various objections.
You must answer to this communication within a specified time by presenting arguments and / or amendments, and this is why an IP professional such as J-INVENT is necessary to write this response in order to optimize your chances to obtain a patent.
Our services also cover:
Appeal and restoration procedures before the Offices, Monitoring of administrative deadlines,
Payment of annual fees or maintenance taxes,
Formalities relating to the establishment of Supplementary Protection Certificates (SCP)
All formalities and registrations of transfers, licenses, etc. in the official registers.
Once a patent is granted, any person can oppose this grant within 9 months by initiating an opposition procedure.
The opposition allows to request the total or partial revocation of a granted patent. This procedure is simple and inexpensive compared to an action for nullity before national authorities.
On the other hand, the opposition must be duly motivated, justified and accompanied by evidence (documents of the prior art), so it is highly advisable to go through an industrial property professional.
Whether you are in attack (opponent) or in defense (patentee whose patent is opposed), J-INVENT can represent you in opposition in order to have the best chances of success.
Infringement action, nullity actions ...
Patent litigations are numerous and J-INVENT can represent you according to your needs. Contact us for more information.
Our services also cover:
Negotiation, drafting and analysis of contracts relating to patents, such as study and research contracts incorporating in particular the fate of industrial property rights, contracts of assignment, license, co-ownership, contracts of assignment of inventors' rights, confidentiality agreements, consortium contracts.
Your first free meeting will allow us to determine your needs and the features of your invention.
J-INVENT will offer you the strategy best tailored to your situation.