Patent protection
Patent protection in France and Europe for Asian innovators
Dreyfus supports IP firms, technology companies, R&D teams and research institutions across Asia on French, European and international patent matters. From Paris, we coordinate French patent matters and work with appropriately authorised European patent attorneys for EPO representation and other reserved patent acts. We also coordinate PCT strategy, European validation, portfolio transactions and disputes with clear English reporting.
The first review identifies the invention, ownership, inventorship, disclosure history, priority, target territories and commercial objective before the procedural route and budget are confirmed.
Patent strategy
Choose the route around the business objective
The right route depends on priority, target markets, technical field, enforcement plans, timing and budget. A PCT application is a filing route, not a worldwide patent.
French, European and international routes
- French filing: protection focused on France through the INPI.
- European patent: centralised examination before the EPO, followed by the selected validation or unitary-effect route.
- PCT application: international filing procedure that preserves options before national or regional phases are pursued.
- Validation in France: post-grant steps, translations where required, recordals and renewal coordination.
- Unitary patent: a single right for participating EU states when it fits the commercial and litigation strategy.
Information to send at the outset
- the invention disclosure, drawings and technical field;
- the applicant, inventors and chain of title;
- any Chinese or earlier filing and priority documents;
- any publication, sale, exhibition or investor disclosure;
- target territories, competitors and commercial use;
- the current procedural deadline and available office actions.
A controlled Asia-to-Europe patent workstream
- Conflict and scope: confirm the parties, technical field, route, deadline and division of responsibilities.
- Priority and ownership: verify filings, inventorship, assignments and disclosure history.
- Drafting and prosecution: work with the appropriate patent professional for the technical field and procedure.
- Grant and territorial effect: coordinate validation, unitary effect, translations, recordals and renewals.
- Commercial protection: connect the patent with licences, due diligence, monitoring and enforcement.
Transactions, oppositions and disputes
A patent portfolio only creates business value when ownership and contractual rights are clear. Dreyfus supports assignments, licences, technology-transfer agreements, due diligence and portfolio recordals, and coordinates freedom-to-operate, opposition and litigation workstreams with the appropriate specialists.
Patent enforcement may also be coordinated with customs and anti-counterfeiting measures when infringing products enter the French or European market.
For IP firms and in-house teams across Asia
We can work as a named coordinating partner or behind the instructing firm, with reserved acts handled by the appropriately authorised professional. Reports identify the action taken, official deadline, next decision, document request and budget implication, while the instructing firm retains control of the client relationship and its local strategy.
Official resources: European Patent Office filing guidance and WIPO PCT information.
Patent protection
Start a France or Europe patent instruction
Send the invention, applicant, inventors, filing history, target territories and current deadline. We will confirm the appropriate first scope and any specialist input required.
