IP services / Life sciences, plant varieties and specialised rights
HORAK · INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Life sciences, plant varieties and specialised rights
Choose protection suited to regulated products, biological inventions and specialised technologies. We coordinate patent strategy with plant variety rights, supplementary protection questions and sector-specific commercial requirements.
Separate patents from specialised protection
Plant variety rights protect qualifying varieties through a distinct application and examination system. They are not a substitute for a patent on a separately patentable technical invention. Semiconductor topographies and geographical indications likewise have their own subject matter and eligibility requirements.
Account for regulatory and development milestones
Life sciences filings depend on the technical disclosure, supporting data and planned publications. Medical treatment methods and products used in treatment must be distinguished. Supplementary protection certificates may be available for eligible authorised products under specific conditions; an ordinary patent does not automatically qualify.
Coordinate territorial and contractual decisions
Research collaborations, material transfers and licences need clear rules for data, biological materials and inventions. International filing routes do not remove national substantive requirements. We identify the relevant rights and coordinate specialist input where the matter requires it.
Three practical examples
Illustrative situations; outcomes depend on the facts and the applicable law.
01
A breeder develops a new ornamental variety: variety protection and naming requirements are assessed separately from trade marks.
02
A pharmaceutical business approaches authorisation: patent status and possible supplementary protection require coordinated review.
03
A chip designer commissions layout work: topography protection, confidential information and ownership clauses must be considered together.
What to prepare
Technical data, development history, relevant authorisations, variety or material details, filing history and collaboration agreements.
How we approach your matter
01 · Assess
We identify the objective, the relevant rights and the next deadline. Existing documents and the technical or commercial background determine the scope of the review.
02 · Agree
We explain the available routes, material risks and expected stages. The instruction distinguishes professional fees from official charges, translations and external costs.
03 · Act
We carry out the agreed work, report material developments and identify the next decision. Filing, registration or a particular dispute outcome cannot be guaranteed.
Further information
Official guidance relevant to this topic. Individual advice requires a review of the particular documents, facts and deadlines.
International filing strategy · Portfolio review · IP disputes
Discuss the next step
Tell us what you want to protect, the markets involved and any filing, launch or response deadline. We will clarify the scope of the instruction, the documents needed and the basis of the fees before starting the agreed work. Please identify the parties first so that we can check for conflicts and arrange a suitable channel for sensitive technical information.
Hannover headquarters · Advice for German and international businesses · Our offices
Enquire about life sciences and plant variety rights
Describe the product, variety or research project for which you seek protection. Mention the development and publication stage so we can distinguish the relevant patent, variety or other specialist protection work. All fields are optional.