Sometimes it is not easy to protect your invention by means of a patent. The invention must be described very precisely in the patent application, which is difficult in the case of complex inventions. Patent attorneys can assist you when applying for a patent.
Patent attorneys are technical experts who have been educated and trained in describing your invention in words in as favourable terms as possible. They are usually also responsible for supervising the grant procedure and take care of any correspondence with our office or the European Patent Office on your behalf. The patent attorneys must be registered in the official Register of Patent Attorneys that our office maintains. You may find the addresses of patent attorneys through the Dutch Institute of Patent Attorneys.
Costs of patent attorneys
The costs of expert assistance by patent attorneys can mount up as they charge an hourly rate (comparable to lawyers). It is therefore important to prepare your visit to a patent attorney's office thoroughly.
First and foremost, you must have a properly developed idea. Before your first visit it is preferable to have found a number of patent publications in the patent databases that approach your invention. It would be a good idea to take these publications along with you, as this will save the patent attorney some work and keeps costs down.
Contact us
If you need more information on how to apply for a patent in the Netherlands, please contact the public information office.
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