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A Patent Application is your official request to protect a new invention under Belgian intellectual property law. It tells the Belgian Office for Intellectual Property exactly what makes your invention unique and how it works, laying your legal claim to that innovation.

Once filed, your application starts a thorough review process where patent examiners check if your invention is truly new and innovative. If approved by the Belgian authorities, you'll get exclusive rights to your invention for up to 20 years, letting you stop others from making or selling it without your permission. This protection starts in Belgium but can expand to other countries through additional filings.

File a Patent Application as soon as you develop a new technical invention that could be valuable for your business. The Belgian filing system follows a "first-to-file" rule, meaning whoever submits their application first gets priority rights—even if someone else invented it earlier but waited to file.

Submit your application before making any public disclosures about your invention, including presentations, sales offers, or online posts. Once your invention becomes public knowledge, you only have 6 months to file in Belgium. Missing this deadline means losing your chance at patent protection, leaving your innovation vulnerable to competitors who could copy and profit from your work.

• Belgian Patent Applications come in three main types: National Patents (filed directly with the Belgian Office), European Patents (covering multiple European countries through a single filing), and International PCT Applications (providing worldwide protection options). Each requires different filing strategies and documentation.
• You can also choose between a Provisional Application (offering 12 months of temporary protection while you develop your invention) and a Full Application (providing complete 20-year protection). The key differences lie in the detail required and the level of protection offered.

• Inventors and Research Teams: Create and document the technical details of new innovations, working closely with patent attorneys to describe their inventions accurately.
• Patent Attorneys: Draft the applications, translate technical descriptions into legally precise claims, and guide clients through the filing process.
• Belgian Patent Office Officials: Review applications, conduct searches, and decide on patent grants.
• Company R&D Departments: Coordinate internal patent strategies and maintain invention documentation.
• Technology Transfer Offices: Handle patent applications for universities and research institutions, managing their intellectual property portfolios.

• Prior Art Search: Document existing similar inventions through patent databases, scientific papers, and market research.
• Technical Details: Prepare detailed descriptions, drawings, and working examples of your invention's components and operation.
• Invention Timeline: Record key dates of conception, testing, and any public disclosures.
• Claims Structure: List your invention's unique features, starting with broad claims and narrowing to specific elements.
• Documentation Package: Gather inventor declarations, priority documents, and any relevant test results or prototypes.
• Filing Strategy: Decide between Belgian national, European, or international PCT routes based on your market needs.

• Title and Abstract: Clear, concise description of your invention in both French and Dutch.
• Technical Description: Detailed explanation enabling any skilled person to reproduce your invention.
• Patent Claims: Precise legal statements defining the scope of protection you're seeking.
• Drawings and Diagrams: Technical illustrations meeting Belgian Patent Office format requirements.
• Inventor Details: Full names and addresses of all contributors to the invention.
• Priority Claims: References to any earlier patent applications for the same invention.
• Legal Declarations: Statements confirming invention ownership and right to file in Belgium.

A Patent Application differs significantly from a Patent Assignment Agreement in both timing and purpose. While both documents relate to patent rights, they serve distinct functions in intellectual property management.

• Purpose and Timing: A Patent Application establishes new intellectual property rights by describing an invention to patent authorities. In contrast, a Patent Assignment Agreement transfers existing patent rights between parties.
• Legal Effect: Patent Applications create potential rights through government grant, lasting up to 20 years. Assignment Agreements transfer ownership of already-existing patent rights, operating like a deed of sale.
• Required Content: Applications need technical descriptions, claims, and drawings of the invention. Assignment Agreements focus on transfer terms, payment details, and warranties about the patent's ownership.
• Parties Involved: Applications involve inventors and patent offices. Assignment Agreements operate between current patent owners and purchasers.