Page 42 - SunTalk December 2020

POLULAR SCIENCE

Is there a fast way to distinguish
different types of patents?
We often see the patent number (also known as patent
application number) in commercial advertisements. How can
we get a general idea of a patent by looking at the patent
number? The patent number is composed of "application
Popular year number + classification number + serial number +
spacer (.) + check code". Classification number 1 stands for
invention, 2 for utility model, and 3 for design.
science 2018 发明 0166588 . 6
1
2018年申请
classroom 2019 实用新型 1231932 . 9
2
2019年申请
2019 3 0529886 . 2
2019年申请 外观设计

What is the difference between Some interesting questions
the three types of patents?
Patent Tips 1ĎDifferent protected objects 1) Are patents granted and protected all over the world?
A: No. The patent right has national boundaries. Only
In patent law, there are the following definitions:
protection of that country.
An “invention” is defined as a new technical solution for a patents filed in a designated country enjoy the legal
product, a method or an improvement thereof. A “utility” 2) Who is the most famous patent examiner of the 20th
model is a new technical solution for the shape, structure or century?
combination of a product that is suitable for practical use. A: Albert Einstein. Einstein worked as a patent examiner in
And “design” is defined as a new design for a product that is Switzerland for seven years.
What is a patent? Research Center aesthetically pleasing and suitable for industrial application.
Yan Tingting
A patent is the granting of an intellectual property right by a 2ĎDifferent Examination and Approval of Patent Wuxi Suntech takes scientific
Applications
sovereign authority to an inventor. It refers to the inventor or For the invention patent application, there are two steps: the research seriously and strengthens
assignee’s right of possession, use, disposal and profit preliminary examination and substantive examination. patent protection
according to the patent law. In the substantive examination, the patent examiner will Suntech attaches importance to the role of patents in
check the existing technical literature and patent technology enterprise management. It has an intellectual property
in the world, and examine whether the patent application management department and full-time management
What are the characteristics has novelty and creativity. The property rights of an personnel. Suntech patents cover photovoltaic cells,
of a patent? invention that has passed the substantive examination are photovoltaic modules, photovoltaic application systems,
relatively stable, which is the reason why invention patents photovoltaic production equipment, and other fields. As of
Patents are characterized by exclusivity, publicity, are more valuable. September 2020, Suntech has applied for a total of 887
territoriality, and temporality. A patent needs to fully disclose patents and got 548 authorized patents. The number of
its technical features or design in order to clearly define the Utility model and design patents do not have a substantive patents applied and authorized is at the leading level in the
scope of protection, i.e. to exchange disclosure for examination process. If no reason for rejection is found domestic photovoltaic industry, and a number of patents
protection at a specific time and in a specific area. during the preliminary examination, then the patent right will have won the honorary titles of China Patent Excellence
Therefore, a patent is a powerful weapon to dominate the be granted. Therefore, these two types of patents are more Award, Jiangsu Patent Gold Award, and Wuxi Patent Gold
existing market and seize a potential one. easily authorized, but the patent rights are unstable and Award.
often invalidated.
3ĎDifferent protection terms
What types of patents does The term of protection for invention patents is 20 years, and
China have? that for utility model and design patents is 10 years, which
shall be calculated from the date of patent application.
Different countries have different types of patents. In China,
the patent law defines 3 types of patents, namely the
invention patent, utility patent and design patent. Protected object Examination Patent right
rules
term
Invention Product , process substantive 20 years
patent examination
utility Products with certain preliminary
patent shape and structure examination 10 years
design Decorative products suitable preliminary 10 years
patent for industrial application examination

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