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Patents in France

Let’s dive right in: in this guide, we will explore how to obtain a patent in France, how to avoid having it invalidated before French courts (or, conversely, how to invalidate your competitors’ patents), and how to use it to prevent any infringement.

We hope you enjoy reading our guide on « Patents in France ».

Here are some useful links:

The Intellectual Property Code (or CPI);
The patent case law search database of the INPI.

Happy browsing!

01 Procédure de délivrance Here we detail the patent grant procedure in France with the INPI: from the filing of… 02 Règles de procédure To organize the grant procedure, the INPI imposes certain formal rules that it is advisable to… 03 Conditions de la brevetabilité We have discussed procedure at length, but let us now turn to the substance of the… 04 Opposition As of April 1, 2020, the INPI has implemented a new procedure (L411-1 CPI): an opposition… 05 Recours en annulation Definition An appeal for annulment is an appeal filed against a decision of the INPI president… 06 Recours gracieux Principle What an administrative appeal is Since the INPI is an administrative body, the decisions of… 07 Limitation et renonciation Purpose of these procedures Article L613-24 CPI provides: The proprietor of the patent may at any… 08 Cession, modification et constitution de droits Assignment Patent assignments must be recorded in writing (L613-8 IPC). Licenses It is possible to grant… 09 Procédure AMM et CCP MA: Marketing Authorization Who is concerned by the MA? Medicinal products must receive an MA (L5121-8… 10 Inventions de salariés Historical overview of the employee inventions regime With the law of January 2, 1968 (Law No.… 11 Substitution du brevet européen au brevet français The French patent ceases to have effect Principle Article L614-13 IPC sets out the principle of… 12 Conditions de la validité d'un brevet Patents are presumed valid (C. Cass. com., 20 October 1964); however, they may be revoked if… 13 Mise en oeuvre de ses droits Section of file “Patents in France” 14 Registre national des brevets et inspection publique National Patent Register Registration in the National Patent Register The following entries are recorded in the… 15 Secret professionnel des CPI General Principles The IP representative is bound by absolute professional secrecy. Indeed, Article L422-11 CPI provides:…