Patents, SPCs & utility models
In a knowledge-driven economy, patents have become one of the key assets of technology companies. They secure a return on years of research investment, give innovators a defined period of market exclusivity, and increasingly determine a company’s value in financing rounds, licensing talks and M&A transactions. To fulfil these roles, a strong patent must provide a reasonably broad scope of protection effectively deterring competitors from infringement, but at the same time it must be able to survive invalidity attempts. Supplementary protection certificates (SPCs) play a key role in the case of medicinal products and plant protection products, ensuring an appropriate extension of the monopoly to compensate for lengthy registration and marketing authorisation procedures. Finally, utility models provide an underrated alternative way of protecting mechanical devices through a usually faster and more cost-effective route.
Our team combines legal qualifications with a technical background and considerable experience in patent protection, in particular in chemistry, pharmacy and biotechnology. This allows us to genuinely understand the technology behind an invention – whether it concerns small molecules, formulations, biologics, medical uses, diagnostics or industrial chemistry – and to translate complex science into strong and enforceable patents.
What we do
At ROA Rasiewicz sp.k. we provide comprehensive support at every stage of the life of an invention – from the first idea, through prior-art searching, drafting and filing, to grant, followed by – if necessary – defending and enforcement of exclusive rights:
- Patent & utility model prosecution in Poland – drafting patent/utility model applications, filing and representation before the Polish Patent Office (PPO), responding to examination reports, attending to all types of pre-grant and post-grant formalities, including registering ownership changes, as well as monitoring and payment of renewal fees.
- International patent applications (PCT) – filing and prosecution before the International Bureau of WIPO, designing international filing strategies, coordinating national and regional phase entries and subsequent foreign proceedings through our network of trusted associates.
- Prosecution of European patents – representation before the European Patent Office (EPO) at all stages of prosecution, as well as validation and post-grant management of European patents in Poland and abroad, including Unitary Patents.
- Oppositions and appeals before the EPO – acting for both patentees and opponents, including oral proceedings before the Opposition Division and the Boards of Appeal.
- Revocation proceedings in Poland – challenging or defending patents, utility models and SPCs before the PPO as well as handling appeal procedures before administrative courts.
- Patentability and prior-art searches – assessment of novelty, inventive step and industrial applicability before investing in a filing.
- Freedom-to-operate (FTO) analyses – clearing the way for product launches, manufacturing and market entry, with clear identification of risks and options for mitigating them.
- Patent landscaping and portfolio review – competitor monitoring, state-of-the-art studies, due diligence and portfolio audits supporting R&D planning and transactions.
- Supplementary protection certificates (SPCs) – filing and prosecuting SPC requests before the PPO, attending to all types of pre-grant and post-grant formalities, including ownership changes, as well as monitoring and payment of renewal fees.
