PATENT & UTILITY MODEL
A patent for an invention is granted by government to the inventor, giving the inventor the right to stop others, for a limited period, from making, using or selling the invention without their permission. In order to get patent registration your invention must;
• BE NEW (never been made public in any way, anywhere in the world, before the date on which the application for a patent is filed),
• INVOLVE AN INVENTIVE STEP (if when compared with what is already known, it would not be obvious to someone with good knowledge and experience of the subject)
• BE CAPABLE OF INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION – (an invention must be capable of being made or used in some kind of industry. This means that the invention must take the practical form of an apparatus or device, a product such as some new material or an industrial process or method of operation)
A utility model is an exclusive right granted for an invention, which allows the right holder to prevent others from commercially using the protected invention, without his authorization, for a limited period of time. Inventive step is not a must for utility models, minor improvements or adaptations which is made to an existing product is enough to get utility model registration. Novelty is a must, too.