PWI

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION

Research findings, technical solutions, creative works, new plant varieties, as well as knowledge and experience, may be subject to various forms of protection.
The method of protection depends on the nature of the outcome, and individual components of a single outcome may be subject to different forms of protection simultaneously.

Industrial property – what do we protect and how?

Industrial property encompasses various subject matters for which the law provides for distinct exclusive rights. The most significant of these are presented below.

Do you want to know more?

Detailed information regarding specific industrial property assets, the conditions for obtaining protection, and application procedures can be found in the guides and publications of the Patent Office of the Republic of Poland.

Guides and publications of the Patent Office of the Republic of Poland

One result – various forms of protection

In practice, a single outcome of scientific activity may encompass elements subject to protection under different legal frameworks. These various forms of protection can complement one another.

Before you disclose the test results

If a result is potentially protectable or has commercial potential, it is essential to take appropriate steps before disclosing it publicly. Publishing or presenting research findings, or making them available in any other way, may affect the possibility of obtaining certain exclusive rights.

Useful industrial property databases

Industrial property databases allow for searching information on patent applications and granted rights, as well as reviewing documentation related to existing solutions. They can be useful, for instance, when conducting a preliminary assessment of the state of the art or searching for similar solutions.

• e-Search Tool of the Patent Office of the Republic of Poland – enables the searching of public data concerning industrial property subject matter within the databases and publications of the Patent Office of the Republic of Poland (UPRP).
• Espacenet – European Patent Office – a free tool for searching patent documentation from many countries.
• PATENTSCOPE – World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) – it enables searching through, among other things, published international PCT patent applications and patent documents made available by national and regional patent offices.

It is worth remembering that industrial property databases can be used to conduct an initial, independent search for information on existing solutions and rights. However, the results of such a search do not determine whether protection can be obtained for a specific solution.