Titles of industrial property protection

A technical solution based on an innovative idea may be protected by a patent, if it is new, involves an inventive step and is industrially applicable.

If a solution applies to the configuration, structure or arrangement of the parts of an object, and involves an inventive step and is industrially applicable, it may be protected by utility model protection.

The appearance of the whole or part of a product, if it is new and has individual character may be protected by design protection.

A plant variety may be granted plant variety protection if it is new, distinct, uniform and stable.

In certain cases, with certain terms and conditions, for a certain period of time defined in the European Community Regulations, the subject matter of an invention, if it concerns medicinal products or plant protection products, may be granted a supplementary protection certificate (SPC) after the expiration of the patent protection (as a result of the lapse of the period of protection).

Trademark protection may be granted for any signs capable of being represented graphically provided that these are capable of distinguishing goods or services from those of others. The signs may be: words, combination of words, personal names, slogans, logos, images, letters, numerals, two-or three-dimensional forms, sounds, colours, combination of colours or combination of signs mentioned before.

Geographical signs and appellations of origin specifying the geographical origin of products placed on the market may be granted protection as geographical indications.