It is possible to obtain the protection of the rights of the inventor or author of works under French national law, or under the procedure provided by international law. France is a party to all international treaties, conventions and acts, which greatly simplifies the process of registering rights.
Intellectual property protection in France applies to all results of creative work recognized by international law - inventions, industrial designs, artistic works, computer databases, etc. In addition to the application of international norms, there is its own system of regulations in the field of copyright and patent law (for example, the Intellectual Property Code of France).
Protection of rights of the author or other legal owner is carried out in France in the following directions:
Registration of intellectual property rights in France is based on an application. It can be submitted directly to the National Institute of Industrial Property, or through the patent services of another country, if it is a party to the Berne Convention. For instance, for Russian inventors this procedure will be done through FIPS (the service of Rospatent).
It is possible to make an application in writing or electronically. The author may be represented by French patent attorneys (if the documents are submitted directly to INPI), or professional experts from other countries, accredited at the national patent offices.
When carrying out examination of the submitted object the French national legislation contains a number of special rules (especially in part of description of an industrial design). It is better to clarify all the issues relating to the application, claims and description of the subject matter through patent attorneys in advance.
The firm of patent attorneys Prof-Patent offers a full range of services for registration and protection of rights in France. We will conduct a preliminary information search through the register of registered rights, we will help you to draw up an application taking into account French legislation and international acts. If necessary, we will assist you in contacting French patent attorneys, with whom we cooperate on a permanent basis.
If the right holder receives a patent that extends into French territory, he can use all the standard protections recognized under international law:
Infringement of exclusive rights under French law is any unauthorized use of another's invention or other object, including violation of the terms of the license. Counterfeit products seized from the infringer are subject to confiscation and may be handed over to the proper right holder or destroyed.
Although France is a member of the European Union, the registration of rights does not automatically extend protection to other states. To do so, you will need to indicate the exact list of countries when making the application, or subsequently go through an independent rights registration procedure in the selected state.
If you need assistance with the protection of intellectual property in France, or have any questions about the registration or disposal of rights, our specialists will provide advice. You can make an appointment for a consultation by phone, listed on the website, or via the feedback form.