The Netherlands Patent Office, a department of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency, implements (inter)national patenting regulations within the Netherlands and promotes the use of patents as a source of information and inspiration.
We offer support and supervision to entrepreneurs, service organisations, scientists, students and other interested parties in the Netherlands. You may consult us free of charge regarding any queries about patents and other ways of protecting intellectual property (IP).
Intellectual property rights
Intellectual property rights protect your idea, product, service or innovative work. Thanks to intellectual property rights, you can make your innovation your property.
Categories of Intellectual Property Rights
Getting intellectual property gives you the right to benefit from your new idea, innovation or product. You can block others copying your patented invention or design. Copyrights is the largest group of intellectual properties, but there are a few more rights. Intellectual Property is divided into 2 categories:
- Industrial property for inventions, trademarks, industrial designs, and geographic indications of source.
- Copyright for written work such as literary and artistic works.
Symbols often represent the type of protection. Dutch law offers various options to protect inventions and innovations.
Overview of Intellectual Property Rights in the Netherlands
| Right | Protection | |
|---|---|---|
| Copyright | Copyright law | For works of literature, art and science |
| Industrial Property Rights | Patent law | For new products or processes |
| Trademark law | For word trademarks and pictorial trademarks | |
| Design law | For the exterior of an implement | |
| Plant breeders’ right | For crops | |
| Topographies of semiconductor products | For chips |
Advice on Intellectual Property Rights
The Netherlands Patent Office helps you with advice on all intellectual property rights. No on patents alone. We help entrepreneurs, service organisations, scientists, and students. Do you have questions about patents of other ways to protect your intellectual property? Please, consult us for free.