[ Utility model ]
The utility model is a technical intellectual property right, which is often referred to as a “small patent”. Its great advantage is that the utility model is usually entered in the register only a matter of weeks after the date of filing. This means that the company or the inventor has “its/his rights” in tangible form and thus has a sound basis for distribution, advertising, sales and licences.
On top of that, there is a six-month novelty grace period with the utility model. This means that if an invention has been presented at a trade fair or field service meeting, for example, this does not prevent its entry in the register, provided simply that that “prior publication” is no more than six months in the past.