Content

Protectability

What can be protected by a utility model?

All technical inventions can be protected by a utility model as they can be by a patent. This also includes chemical substances, foodstuffs and medicinal products.

Protection is not available for:

• discoveries, scientific theories and mathematical methods
• aesthetic creations
• schemes, rules and methods for performing mental acts, playing games or doing business
• presentations of information
• programs for computers
• blueprints, patterns, teaching methods
• biotechnological inventions
• animal and plant varieties

Eligible for patent protection but explicitly excluded from utility model protection are:

• processes (manufacturing and working processes)

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Last updated: 20 October 2020