Shopping on line can be easy, simple and save you lots of money. It can also take a lot of your time, frustrate you, and result in unwanted purchases. Now the same can be said for regular high street shopping, but with the vast opportunity presented by the Internet it will pay you to spend a few minutes reading this and understanding how to better optimize your Utility Model shopping experience:
1. Compare - without doubt the biggest advantage that the Utility Model offers shoppers today is the ability to compare thousands of Utility Model at a time. This is a great thing, but not necessarily all the time! Too much can be daunting at times so take advantage of the great comparison sites and where possible let them do the hard work for you.
2. Research - if it has been said it will be on the internet. Ignorance is no longer a justifiable reason for buying the wrong thing. Take the time to research in detail everything that you could possible want to know about
3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a Utility Model? Wrong! If the Utility Model is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.
4. Questions - Got a question about Utility Model then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....
5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling Utility Model? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about Utility Model and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.
6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your Utility Model wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.
7. Feedback - happy with your Utility Model then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.
8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the Utility Model site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site
9. Contact - got a question about Utility Model, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.
10. Payment - ready to pay for your Utility Model, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.
A
utility model is an
intellectual property right to protect inventions. This right is available in a number of national legislations, such as Argentina, Austria,
Brazil,
Chile, China, Finland,
France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Philippines, Poland,
Portugal,
Russia,
South Korea,
Spain, Taiwan,
Uzbekistan, etc. http://www.wipo.int/sme/en/ip_business/utility_models/where.htm It is very similar to the
patent, but usually has a shorter
term of patent (often 6 or 10 years) and less stringent
patentability requirements.
The Germany and
Austrian utility model is called the "
Gebrauchsmuster", which influenced some other countries such as in Japan. Meanwhile, the utility model in Indonesia and Finland is called as "Petty Patent"
Definition
A
utility model is a statutory monopoly granted for a limited time in exchange for an inventor providing sufficient teaching of his or her invention to permit a person of ordinary skill in the relevant art to perform the invention. The rights conferred by utility model laws are very similar to those granted by patent laws, but are more suited to what may be considered as "incremental inventions". Terms such as "petty patent", "innovation patent", "minor patent", and "small patent" may also be considered to fall within the definition of "utility model". A "utility innovation" is available in Malaysia. http://www.myipo.gov.my/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=7
Requirements for Grant
Most countries having utility model laws require that the invention be new. However, many patent or utility model offices do not conduct substantive examination and merely grant the utility model after checking that utility model applications comply with formalities. Some countries exclude particular subject matter from utility model protection. For example, methods, plant and animals are normally barred from utility model protection.
In Germany a utility model is considered to be new if it does not form part of the state of the art. The state of the art comprises any knowledge made available to the public by means of a written description or by use within Germany before the date relevant for the priority of the application. Description or use within the six months preceding the date relevant for the priority of the application shall not be taken into consideration if it is based on the conception of the applicant or his predecessor in title. (Utility Model Law § 3 Abs. 1)
In
Spain, the
novelty (patent) requirement for obtaining a utility model (
Spanish language:
modelo de utilidad) is "relative", i.e. only public written disclosure of the invention in Spain is prejudicial against the novelty of the invention claim (patent)ed in the utility model. This is in sharp contrast with Spanish patents for which absolute novelty is required. What constitutes a "disclosure of the invention
in Spain" has been the subject of two recent decisions of the
Spanish Supreme Court (RJ 1996/7239 "
Scott c. Sarrió y Sarrió Tisú" and RJ 2004/2740 "
PEMSA c. Interflex").
Application
Utility model applications may be prepared and filed at local patent offices in coutries where utility model protection is available. Alternatively, an international patent application may be filed in a country belonging to the Patent Cooperation Treaty. Most countries belonging to the treaty and having utility model laws permit utility model applications to proceed as national phase applications of the international patent application. http://www.wipo.int/pct/en/texts/pdf/typesprotection.pdf
The table below is a list of countries having utility model protection under various names as at 1998.http://www.billanderson.com.au/pats_frame.htm
Country
Type of Protection
Maximum Term
PCT route available
Conversion from Patent Application
Albania
utility model
10 years
Yes
Yes
Angola
utility model
no set term
No
probably
Argentina
utility model
10 years
No
Yes
Armenia
utility model
10 years
Yes
unknown
Australia
innovation patent
8 years
No
Yes
Austria
utility model
10 years
Yes
Yes by division
Belarus
utility model
5 years
Yes
unknown
Belgium
short patent
6 years
No
No
Bolivia
utility model
10 years
No
unknown
Brazil
utility model
10 years
Yes
probably
Bulgaria
utility model
10 years
Yes
probably
Chile
utility model
10 years
No
unknown
China
utility model patent
10 years
Yes
unknown
Colombia
utility model patent
10 years
No
probably by division
Cuba
industrial model patent
5 years
No
probably not
Czech Republic
utility model
10 years
Yes
Yes by division
Denmark
utility model
10 years
Yes
Yes by division
Ecuador
utility model
10 years
No
Yes by division
Estonia
utility model
8 years
Yes
Yes
Finland
petty patent
10 years
Yes
Yes
Georgia
utility model
8 years
Yes
Yes
Germany
utility model
6 years
Yes
Yes
Greece
utility model
7 years
No
Yes
Guatemala
utility model
10 years
No
Yes
Hungary
utility model
10 years
Yes
Yes
Indonesia
Petty Patent/Simple Patent
10 years
Yes
Yes
Ireland
short term patent
10 years
No
Yes
Italy
utility model
10 years
No
Yes
Japan
utility model
10 - 15 years
Yes
Yes
Kazakhstan
utility model
8 years
Yes
Yes
Kenya
utility model
unknown
Yes
probably
Korea (south)
utility patent
15 years
Yes
Yes
Kyrgyzstan
utility model
unknown
Yes
unknown
Lesotho
utility model
7 years
Yes
Yes
Malaysia
utility innovation
15 years
No
No
Moldova
utility model
unknown
Yes
probably
Mexico
utility model patent
5 years
Yes
unknown
Mexico
utility model
10 years
Yes
unknown
OAPI
utility model
8 years
Yes
probably not
Peru
utility model patent
5 years
No
Yes
Philippines
utility model
15 years
Yes
Yes
Poland
utility model
10 years
Yes
Yes
Portugal
utility model
no set term
Yes
unknown
Russia
utility model
8 years
Yes
Yes
Slovakia
utility model
10 years
Yes
Yes
Slovenia
short term patent
10 years
Yes
probably
Somalia
utility model
4 years
No
unknown
Spain
utility model
10 years
Yes
Yes
Taiwan
utility model
10-12 years
No
Yes
Tajikistan
utility model
9 years
Yes
probably
Tangier Zone
utility model
10 years
No
unknown
Turkey
utility model
10 years
Yes
Yes
Uganda
utility certificate
7 years
No
Yes
Ukraine
utility model
8 years
Yes
Yes
Uruguay
utility model patent
10 years
No
Yes
United Arab Emirates
utility model
10 years
No
unknown
Uzbekistan
utility model
8 years
Yes
probably
Venezuela
utility model
10 years
No
Yes
Vietnam
utility model
6 years
Yes
Yes
References
A
utility model is an
intellectual property right to protect inventions. This right is available in a number of national legislations, such as
Argentina,
Austria,
Brazil,
Chile,
China,
Finland,
France,
Germany, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico,
Morocco,
Philippines,
Poland,
Portugal, Russia,
South Korea,
Spain,
Taiwan, Uzbekistan, etc. http://www.wipo.int/sme/en/ip_business/utility_models/where.htm It is very similar to the
patent, but usually has a shorter
term of patent (often 6 or 10 years) and less stringent
patentability requirements.
The
Germany and
Austrian utility model is called the "
Gebrauchsmuster", which influenced some other countries such as in Japan. Meanwhile, the utility model in Indonesia and Finland is called as "Petty Patent"
Definition
A
utility model is a statutory monopoly granted for a limited time in exchange for an inventor providing sufficient teaching of his or her invention to permit a person of ordinary skill in the relevant art to perform the invention. The rights conferred by utility model laws are very similar to those granted by patent laws, but are more suited to what may be considered as "incremental inventions". Terms such as "petty patent", "innovation patent", "minor patent", and "small patent" may also be considered to fall within the definition of "utility model". A "utility innovation" is available in Malaysia. http://www.myipo.gov.my/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=7
Requirements for Grant
Most countries having utility model laws require that the invention be new. However, many patent or utility model offices do not conduct substantive examination and merely grant the utility model after checking that utility model applications comply with formalities. Some countries exclude particular subject matter from utility model protection. For example, methods, plant and animals are normally barred from utility model protection.
In
Germany a utility model is considered to be new if it does not form part of the state of the art. The state of the art comprises any knowledge made available to the public by means of a written description or by use within Germany before the date relevant for the priority of the application. Description or use within the six months preceding the date relevant for the priority of the application shall not be taken into consideration if it is based on the conception of the applicant or his predecessor in title. (Utility Model Law § 3 Abs. 1)
In Spain, the
novelty (patent) requirement for obtaining a utility model (Spanish language:
modelo de utilidad) is "relative", i.e. only public written disclosure of the invention in Spain is prejudicial against the novelty of the invention claim (patent)ed in the utility model. This is in sharp contrast with Spanish patents for which absolute novelty is required. What constitutes a "disclosure of the invention
in Spain" has been the subject of two recent decisions of the
Spanish Supreme Court (RJ 1996/7239 "
Scott c. Sarrió y Sarrió Tisú" and RJ 2004/2740 "
PEMSA c. Interflex").
Application
Utility model applications may be prepared and filed at local patent offices in coutries where utility model protection is available. Alternatively, an international patent application may be filed in a country belonging to the
Patent Cooperation Treaty. Most countries belonging to the treaty and having utility model laws permit utility model applications to proceed as national phase applications of the international patent application. http://www.wipo.int/pct/en/texts/pdf/typesprotection.pdf
The table below is a list of countries having utility model protection under various names as at 1998.http://www.billanderson.com.au/pats_frame.htm
Country
Type of Protection
Maximum Term
PCT route available
Conversion from Patent Application
Albania
utility model
10 years
Yes
Yes
Angola
utility model
no set term
No
probably
Argentina
utility model
10 years
No
Yes
Armenia
utility model
10 years
Yes
unknown
Australia
innovation patent
8 years
No
Yes
Austria
utility model
10 years
Yes
Yes by division
Belarus
utility model
5 years
Yes
unknown
Belgium
short patent
6 years
No
No
Bolivia
utility model
10 years
No
unknown
Brazil
utility model
10 years
Yes
probably
Bulgaria
utility model
10 years
Yes
probably
Chile
utility model
10 years
No
unknown
China
utility model patent
10 years
Yes
unknown
Colombia
utility model patent
10 years
No
probably by division
Cuba
industrial model patent
5 years
No
probably not
Czech Republic
utility model
10 years
Yes
Yes by division
Denmark
utility model
10 years
Yes
Yes by division
Ecuador
utility model
10 years
No
Yes by division
Estonia
utility model
8 years
Yes
Yes
Finland
petty patent
10 years
Yes
Yes
Georgia
utility model
8 years
Yes
Yes
Germany
utility model
6 years
Yes
Yes
Greece
utility model
7 years
No
Yes
Guatemala
utility model
10 years
No
Yes
Hungary
utility model
10 years
Yes
Yes
Indonesia
Petty Patent/Simple Patent
10 years
Yes
Yes
Ireland
short term patent
10 years
No
Yes
Italy
utility model
10 years
No
Yes
Japan
utility model
10 - 15 years
Yes
Yes
Kazakhstan
utility model
8 years
Yes
Yes
Kenya
utility model
unknown
Yes
probably
Korea (south)
utility patent
15 years
Yes
Yes
Kyrgyzstan
utility model
unknown
Yes
unknown
Lesotho
utility model
7 years
Yes
Yes
Malaysia
utility innovation
15 years
No
No
Moldova
utility model
unknown
Yes
probably
Mexico
utility model patent
5 years
Yes
unknown
Mexico
utility model
10 years
Yes
unknown
OAPI
utility model
8 years
Yes
probably not
Peru
utility model patent
5 years
No
Yes
Philippines
utility model
15 years
Yes
Yes
Poland
utility model
10 years
Yes
Yes
Portugal
utility model
no set term
Yes
unknown
Russia
utility model
8 years
Yes
Yes
Slovakia
utility model
10 years
Yes
Yes
Slovenia
short term patent
10 years
Yes
probably
Somalia
utility model
4 years
No
unknown
Spain
utility model
10 years
Yes
Yes
Taiwan
utility model
10-12 years
No
Yes
Tajikistan
utility model
9 years
Yes
probably
Tangier Zone
utility model
10 years
No
unknown
Turkey
utility model
10 years
Yes
Yes
Uganda
utility certificate
7 years
No
Yes
Ukraine
utility model
8 years
Yes
Yes
Uruguay
utility model patent
10 years
No
Yes
United Arab Emirates
utility model
10 years
No
unknown
Uzbekistan
utility model
8 years
Yes
probably
Venezuela
utility model
10 years
No
Yes
Vietnam
utility model
6 years
Yes
Yes
References
Internal Market - Industrial Property - Utility Model
European Commission - Harmonising the laws of the Member States relating to industrial property rights ... 01.03.2002: Summary report of replies to the questionnaire on the impact ...
FT.com | The Economists’ Forum | Britain’s utility model is broken
Martin Wolf's Economists' forum ... Privatisation was one of the great achievements of the Thatcher era. But it is becoming increasingly evident that the transfer of monopolies ...
Utility model - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A utility model is an intellectual property right to protect inventions. This right is available in a number of national legislations, such as Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Chile ...
Utility - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
It is debatable whether any of these can be adequately represented in a system that uses a utility model. [edit] See also. Allais paradox; behavioral economics; Choice Modelling; consumer ...
IBM utility model taps into Net - ZDNet.co.uk
In its latest step toward utility computing, Big Blue is offering to let customers use the Internet to tap into the power of server computers that...
STFC ePublication Archive
Work Id: 37462: OAI Item Identifier: oai:epubs.cclrc.ac.uk:work/37462: Title: A Utility-Based Reputation Model for Service-Oriented Computing: Contributions: GC Silaghi (STFC ...
Utility Model
The protection of technical inventions by means of patents Is it always possible and/or necessary to obtain a patent to protect technical inventions? What are the ...
How Brand Utility Changes the Ad Model Online - ClickZ
Partner with entertainment providers and content creators upfront and codevelop a plan that equally benefits both parties -- plus the viewer! ... When it comes to advertising, I've ...
BMW drives on utility model - 28 May 2003 - Computing
Auto giant looks at moving email to on-demand ... BMW drives on utility model. Auto giant looks at moving email to on-demand
FT.com / Columnists / Martin Wolf - Britain’s utility model is ...
Change the regulatory regime, urges Martin Wolf ... Britain’s utility model is broken. By Martin Wolf. Published: June 12 2008 18:59 | Last updated:
