Utility model systems offer protection for technical inventions based on criteria that are, as a general rule, less stringent than those for patents. The owner of a utility model is granted an exclusive right to prevent third parties, for a limited period, from commercially exploiting the protected invention without the consent of the right holder. The concept of utility model varies from one Member State to another, and not all Member States have a utility model system. In general, utility models are suitable for protecting inventions that make small improvements to, or adaptations of, existing products, or that have a short commercial life. However, similarly to patents, utility models can protect inventions that could prove necessary to address a crisis or emergency, and should therefore be included in the scope of the Union compulsory licence.
Text as published in the Official Journal, reproduced verbatim (including any typographical quirks of the source). For the authentic version, see EUR-Lex.
