Patents are the strongest IP protection available for technical innovations. They grant you a legal monopoly to exploit your invention and to prevent any unauthorized use, manufacture, sale or import by third parties. Dreyfus advises international clients on the full patent life cycle in France, before the European Patent Office (EPO) and worldwide through the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) administered by WIPO.
Four structural advantages of the French and European patent systems that make patent protection one of the most powerful legal tools for technical innovators.
A patent granted at the INPI or the European Patent Office is protected for 20 years from the filing date, subject to the payment of annual renewal fees. This long protection is what makes patents one of the most valuable intangible assets a technical company can own.
Source: European Patent Convention (EPC), article 63.
Since 1 June 2023, the unitary patent gives you protection across up to 18 EU member states with a single right, a single annual fee and a single litigation forum before the Unified Patent Court. The most significant reform of European patent law in 40 years.
Source: EU Regulation 1257/2012, unitary patent system in force since 1 June 2023.
The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), administered by WIPO, lets inventors file one international patent application that simultaneously seeks protection in all 157 PCT contracting states, giving 30 to 31 months to decide where to pursue national examination.
Source: WIPO, PCT – The International Patent System.
The Unified Patent Court (UPC) rules on infringement and validity of unitary patents and classical European patents with one decision applicable across participating member states. With a local division in Paris, France is one of the strategic forums for European patent litigation.
Source: Agreement on a Unified Patent Court, in force since 1 June 2023.
Whether you are a deep-tech startup preparing your Series A, a global manufacturer building a defensive portfolio, or a research institution monetizing its inventions, our team supports you from the initial invention disclosure to the granted patent, and beyond into licensing, enforcement and litigation before the Unified Patent Court.
Whether you are a researcher, a startup, a corporate R&D team, an engineer or an independent inventor, filing a patent gives you an exclusive exploitation monopoly for up to 20 years from the filing date. This monopoly is the backbone of any technical innovation strategy: it secures your competitive advantage, supports financing operations, enables licensing income, and serves as a credible deterrent against copycats.
A patent protects technical solutions to technical problems, provided three conditions are met: novelty (the invention must not be part of the state of the art anywhere in the world), inventive step (it must not be obvious to a person skilled in the art), and industrial applicability (it must be capable of being made or used in industry).
In France, patents are filed with the INPI. For European-wide protection, the European Patent Office (EPO) grants European patents that can be validated in up to 39 contracting states. Since 1 June 2023, the new unitary patent covers up to 17 EU member states with a single right and a single renewal fee.
As early as possible. Filing date is critical because patent law is based on the first-to-file principle. The first applicant to file a valid patent application secures the priority right, even if another inventor created the same invention earlier in their lab.
Before you file, your invention must remain absolutely confidential. Any public disclosure (scientific publication, trade show, conference, social media post, demonstration to investors without an NDA) can destroy novelty and bar future patent protection in most jurisdictions. Unlike designs, patent law generally does not allow a grace period in Europe.
Once a first filing is made, you have a 12-month priority window under the Paris Convention to extend protection to other countries while keeping the original filing date. This window is typically used to file a PCT international application with WIPO, which gives you up to 30 to 31 months before deciding in which national or regional offices to enter the examination phase.
Patentable subject matter includes new products, processes, manufacturing methods, chemical compounds, mechanical assemblies, electronic systems, software-related inventions when they produce a technical effect, and many other technical creations. Certain subject matter is excluded from patentability under European law, including discoveries as such, mathematical methods, business methods, mental acts and software claimed in isolation from any technical effect.
The strategic question is rarely whether your invention is patentable in theory: it is whether the patent will be worth filing, prosecuting and enforcing given your business priorities, your competitive landscape and your IP budget. Our patent attorneys carry out invention disclosure interviews, prior art searches and patentability opinions to help you make this call before you invest in a full filing.
Dreyfus combines French legal expertise with direct filings at the INPI and the European Patent Office, full PCT international representation, and coordination with a network of trusted local correspondents in every jurisdiction where your patents matter. We support international clients on patent filing, prosecution, validation, oppositions, freedom-to-operate analysis, licensing and litigation before the Unified Patent Court.
We assist in drafting and filing your patents to ensure solid legal protection for your innovations.
We provide portfolio management services, including renewal tracking and strategy development to maximize the value of your patents.
We represent clients in patent-related disputes, including infringement actions and opposition procedures.
We develop customized strategies to protect your inventions against violations and unauthorized use.
Our experts advise on best practices for innovating in compliance with current regulations.
We conduct continuous monitoring to detect any rights violations and track technological developments in your field.
A European patent at the EPO typically takes between 3 and 5 years from filing to grant, depending on the technical field and the complexity of the prosecution. The procedure includes formal examination, a European search report, substantive examination on novelty and inventive step, and possible oppositions. Accelerated examination is available through the PACE program for applicants who need a faster decision.
A French national patent filing with the INPI starts at around 36 euros for the filing fee plus 520 euros for the examination, with annuities increasing from year to year. A European patent at the EPO significantly more expensive : filing, search, examination and grant fees total around 5,000 to 6,000 euros before professional fees, plus translation and validation costs in each designated country. The unitary patent removes these per-country validation costs across 17 EU member states.
A French patent protects the invention in France only. A European patent granted by the EPO must then be validated in each of the contracting states where protection is sought, creating a bundle of national rights. The unitary patent, available since 1 June 2023, gives a single right covering up to 17 EU member states with one renewal and one litigation forum. The choice depends on the territories targeted and the budget available.
The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) is an international procedure administered by WIPO that lets you file one application covering 157 contracting states. It does not grant a patent but gives you 30 to 31 months from the priority date to decide in which countries to enter the national or regional examination phase. The PCT is the standard route for any inventor who wants to keep international options open without committing immediately to multiple national filings.
A patent protects inventions that are new, involve an inventive step, and are capable of industrial application. Patentable subject matter includes products, processes, manufacturing methods, chemical compounds, mechanical assemblies, electronic systems, and software-related inventions that produce a technical effect. Discoveries, mathematical methods, business methods, mental acts and software as such are excluded under European law.
No. Any public disclosure before the filing date can destroy novelty and bar future patent protection in Europe, China and most jurisdictions worldwide. Unlike designs and trademarks, patent law in Europe does not provide a general grace period. Confidentiality agreements (NDAs) must be in place before any disclosure to investors, partners, manufacturers or co-developers.
The Unified Patent Court (UPC), in force since 1 June 2023, is a specialized international court that rules on infringement and validity of unitary patents and classical European patents (unless opted out). One decision applies across all participating EU member states. With a local division in Paris, France is now one of the strategic forums for European patent litigation.
In France and at the EPO, individual inventors and EU-based companies can file directly. However, the technical and legal complexity of patent drafting makes professional representation almost mandatory in practice: poorly drafted claims are the most common cause of weak or invalid patents. Non-EU applicants must appoint a European Patent Attorney to represent them before the EPO.
