Patent opposition examination refers to an examination system that allows anyone in the society to raise objections to the patent within the legal period after the patent application is announced. By submitting opposition requests, the Patent Office widely solicits the public's evaluation of patent applications, discovers problems in a timely manner, and makes correct granted decisions, thereby reducing disputes after patent granted. Today, many countries in the world have set up opposition systems or opposition procedures in their respective patent systems, which provide opportunities for third parties to oppose the granted of a certain patent within a specified period.
The opposition procedure is closely related to the patent approval procedure. Generally speaking, the opposition request can be filed before the patent is granted (pre-grant opposition) or after the patent is granted (post-grant opposition). Different countries have different regulations on the timing of the opposition.
Today, enterprises are becoming more and more aware of intellectual property rights. By monitoring the status of competitors' patent applications, filing opposition requests in a timely manner, or responding to third parties' objections to patents that they have paid attention to, it has become more and more proficient for enterprises. One of the means of intellectual property rights.
- Patent application status search: DEPATISnet | Basic search (dpma.de)
- Timing of submission: within 9 months from the date of issuance of the Authorization Gazette
- Filing Language: German
- Submission method: electronic form (online submission); paper form (mail)
- Requester: anyone
- Official fee: EUR 200.00