The process, stage by stage
Initial contact and confidentiality
We begin with a non-confidential summary: sector, problem, development stage, markets and deadlines. Before technical details are shared, we agree documents and exchange arrangements, considering a confidentiality agreement where appropriate. We establish whether presentations, fairs, publications, offers or other disclosures have already occurred, as these can affect the prospects of patent protection.
Inventors, applicant and entitlement
We identify the inventors and intended applicant. For projects involving employees, universities, consultants or several businesses, employment and research agreements help clarify ownership. Inventor and owner are not necessarily the same person. Open entitlement questions should be addressed before the application is finalised and before the project is presented to investors or buyers.
Technical assessment and prior art search
We organise the technical problem, solution, components, operation, advantages, variants and experimental results. If included, a prior art search identifies and reviews relevant documents. Patentability requires, among other things, novelty, inventive step and industrial applicability. The search supports drafting but does not replace examination by the office or guarantee grant.
Protection strategy and territorial route
We compare an initial Italian filing, the European route and the PCT route against markets and budget. Patent priority is normally twelve months from the first filing where the requirements are met. The PCT starts an international procedure; it does not grant a worldwide patent. National or regional entry deadlines vary, often falling thirty months from priority, and must be checked office by office.
Drafting the application and claims
Technical material is developed into a description, claims, drawings where needed and an abstract. Claims define the protection sought; the description must explain the invention sufficiently for it to be carried out. We review examples, alternatives and available data with the client so essential material is not left out of the initial text. The draft and route are approved before filing.
Filing, receipts and initial deadlines
Where included, we coordinate filing and formalities with professionals authorised for the procedure. We collect the number, date, filed documents and applicable fee payments. The client receives a summary of initial deadlines and upcoming territorial decisions. A filed application is a request for protection, not an already granted right.
Search report, publication and examination
We analyse the official report and relevant objections to decide how to proceed. European applications are normally published eighteen months from filing or the earliest priority. Examination can require reasoned responses and allowable amendments to the claims. Prosecution, translations and local assistance are defined by stage rather than treated as part of a simple initial submission.
Grant, effective territories and maintenance
If granted, we summarise the approved text and the steps needed to establish and maintain protection in the selected territories. European grant may be followed by national validations and, where applicable, a request for unitary effect. Renewal fees and deadlines require separate management. An Italian invention patent has an ordinary maximum term of twenty years from filing, subject to maintenance.
Documents for technical assessment
- The problem, solution and differences from known alternatives.
- Drawings, diagrams, technical photographs, prototypes and operating descriptions.
- Tests, results, variants and development limitations.
- Inventors, proposed owner and relevant employment, research or development agreements.
- Disclosure dates, earlier filings, target markets and available budget.
Documents that track the work
Deliverables may include a structured technical brief, search report, feature mapping, territorial proposal, application draft, filing receipts and deadline schedule. Later stages may add an assessment of the official report, draft replies and grant documents. Each delivery should make assumptions, missing information and client decisions clear.
Software, pharmaceuticals and complex technology
Calling a product innovative is not enough. For software, the technical contribution must be assessed under the applicable rules, separately from its commercial name and copyright in code. Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology call for attention to data, disclosure and specific regimes. Aerospace and engineering projects require clarity over partner contributions, systems, components and disclosure restrictions. The strategy follows the actual project.
Patentability and freedom to operate are different
A patentability search compares the solution with prior art. A freedom-to-operate analysis examines whether the intended activity risks infringing third-party rights effective in the reviewed territories. Obtaining a patent does not automatically establish freedom to commercialise. Any FTO assessment has a separate scope and must be expressly requested and quoted.
Planning timing and costs
The proposal separates searching, drafting, drawings, filing, official fees, translations, examination, extensions, validations and renewal fees. Technical information and draft approval affect preparation; the offices determine procedural timing. Stage-based budgeting allows the client to choose where to continue as the project and results develop, without confusing the initial filing cost with the full lifecycle cost.
Frequently asked questions
Can a simple idea be patented?
A technical solution must be adequately described and meet the applicable requirements. A commercial idea alone is not a patentable invention.
Should I present the project before filing?
Disclosure can compromise novelty. Assess filing and confidentiality before open presentations, publications or fairs; any exceptions depend on the applicable law.
Is there a worldwide patent?
No. The PCT provides an international procedure, but grant remains with national or regional offices. Subsequent territories and entries must be chosen and funded.
Does a trademark protect the product technology?
A trademark identifies commercial origin; a patent concerns a technical solution. A project may need both, with separate applications and assessments.
What happens after grant?
Territorial effect, renewal fees and possible challenges need management. Watching and enforcement are further activities to coordinate with the owner.
Official references
- UIBM · Domande di brevetto per invenzione
- EPO · Patentability requirements
- EPO · How to apply for a patent
- EPO · Computer programs
- WIPO · PCT FAQ
- WIPO · National phase time limits
Work is defined in the engagement. Procedures, formalities and fees must be checked for the relevant right and territory. References consulted on 12 October 2026.