SME Forum

Innovation and Industrial Property

Innovation can be defined as the appearance of a novelty, whether spontaneously or as the result of lengthy research. It can affect any sector of a business: a technique, a product, a method, an organization...
The concept of innovation itself carries the idea of a concrete implementation, and marketing when it involves a product. Several practical questions then arise for the businessperson or inventor so that the innovative product reaches the Client base:

• How will I produce it? Do I need to adapt my production line?
• How will I sell it? Through which network?
• How will I get the word out about it?
• How will I finance the necessary investments?
• How can I reserve exploitation of this product for myself for several years?

Industrial Property is one of the components of innovation, because it provides the businessperson and/or inventor with answers to some of these questions:

• a patent allows the businessperson to keep an operating monopoly over a technical invention for a maximum period of 20 years,
• a trademark makes it possible to associate a name or a logo with a product or service, so as to differentiate it from the competition, without time limitation,
• a design or model makes it possible to keep an operating monopoly over the esthetic appearance of the product for a maximum period of 25 years.

Furthermore, Industrial Property Attorneys such as the Cabinet Moutard, often faced with all of these questions, has a network of innovation specialists who can help the businessperson for example to complete his financial plan, to build up a marketing plan...