PATENT RENEWAL

Retaining patents can be a particularly complex and arduous task, both in terms of time and resources required, since the official patent offices in different countries have different procedures. The offices do, however, all have one thing in common - they expect total accuracy in regard to how and when various operations be undertaken. Giving incorrect information, or missing deadlines may even mean the loss of one's patent rights.

N&G Patser handles thousands and thousands of renewal fees each year and procedures have been developed to safeguard every important step. All important facts and figures relating to patents are fed into a computerised system, so that expiry dates can be identified for all relevant countries, notifications of expiry can be issued, as well as reminders, when required, and payments can be made in due time.

In other words, N&G Patser is able to provide a complete service as patent consultants and administrators by means of specially designed software programs that are able to:

• check on forthcoming expiry dates;
• provide clients with notification of expiry, generally two months before the actual due date of expiry and send out reminders, where necessary, by registered mail well before the final expiry deadline. If a client still does not instruct for the renewal, the client is contacted by telephone to be sure that it is intended that patent rights be allowed to lapse;
• send out orders of payment for renewals to foreign Patent Agents and/or directly on National Patent authorized forms, when required, and making payments on-line, when possible.
• check up on payment of renewal fees;
• send out, at the client's request, statements and estimates of costs, so that at any moment the client has a clear overview of their patent portfolio and an idea of costs involved in maintaining the portfolio (this service is offered completely free to clients).

There can be no doubt that this procedure, ensuring the maximum peace of mind, has a cost, and this determines the standard fees charged by N&G Patser. Nevertheless, fees are set with the greatest flexibility and correctness possible, and, what is most important of all, they are particularly competitive and can be further reduced according to the overall number of renewals per year handled and according to methods of payment.

In addition, clients will find that people in charge of this service in N&G Patser are always available at any moment for all urgent matters.

TRADEMARK RENEWAL

Renewals are made before the Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (IFPI) in Bern (Switzerland), the World Intellectual Property Office in Geneva and, if necessary, all around the world.

Clients may also take advantage of the attractive fees charged to clients who already renew their patents with N&G Patser.

FILING OF PATENTS AND TRADEMARKS

N&G Patser is the handling office and address for service for all operations and procedures carried out at the Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (IFPI) in Bern (Switzerland).

N&G Patser is thus able to file patent and trademark applications directly with the IFPI.

VALIDATION OF EUROPEAN PATENTS

N&G Patser is the handling office and address for service for the Validation of European Patents in Switzerland, registering all decisions relating to the granting of patents by the European Patent Office in Munich (Germany).

So far a number of registrations have been made in Bern and N&G Patser looks after yearly renewals and keeps clients informed, without any additional cost for such an address for service.

CHANGE OF NAME AND/OR OF ADDRESS OF PATENTS AND TRADEMARKS

N&G Patser is the handling office and address for service for all operations relating to the change of name and/or the change of address of patents and trademarks in Switzerland, working in direct contact with the Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (IFPI) in Bern.

AUTHENTICATION AND LEGAL DOCUMENTS

N&G Patser also provides all services relating to the authentication of documents and legalized documents with consulates and embassies in Switzerland.