Patent Searching
There are two main types of patent searches that the INPU conducts.
The first is a patentability search, which reviews prior art in the relevant technical field to determine if an invention fulfills the requirements of novelty and inventiveness/non-obviousness.
The second is an infringement or freedom-to-operate search and analysis, which seeks to determine if a particular technology, be it an apparatus, product, or process, would likely infringe any patents owned by others.
Patent Drafting
To obtain patent rights for the inventor, the patent specification describing the invention and listing the claims must first be prepared. The INPU offers this service to assist inventors to prepare the patent specification prior to filing a patent.
Patent Filing
Patent filing shall be undertaken mainly for BPSU. However, when external institutions decide to file their applications through BPSU, they shall shoulder all the filing fees as required by IPOPHL. A minimal management fee shall be required from the external institution to cover maintenance fees.
Patent Prosecution
After the patent application has been filed, the application will go through a process of search and examination. In the course of the search and examination process, the applicant may have to deal with office citations, including prior art citations and other objections.
Intellectual Property Management Services
As the host institution and other customers begin to look at commercialization of their patents and other intellectual properties, the INPU may also offer various types of IP management services to assist them, including IP commercialization and licensing support.
Intellectual Property Skills Training Courses
Part of the mandate of each INPU is to promote the use of patent information and protection of innovation through patents. It is also a requirement for each INPU to train at least ten (10) patent drafters annually who actually draft patents through the INPU. Also, as demand for INPU's services increases, INPU will need to train new technical experts and managers to cope with the workload. To meet these requirements, the INPU will be running IP skills training courses regularly.
