The role of the professional representative is to represent you in all your dealings with INPI. The Institut National de la Propriété Industrielle requires the intervention of a patent law professional under certain conditions.
When should a patent agent be called in?
The representative represents you before the office for your patent filing procedures. In France, he can carry out the formalities for you, and respond on your behalf. In this way, the representative is able to respond to theINPI examiner on the basis of sound legal and scientific arguments for obtaining your industrial property title. Depending on the case, it may be compulsory to call on the services of an agent.
| Your situation | Is a mandatary mandatory? |
| Individual (independent inventor, private individual) | No, but recommended |
| Legal entity (company, association, etc.) | No, but recommended |
| Collective of several individuals | Yes, a single joint representative |
| Established outside France, EU or EEA member state. | Yes |
Read: Who can apply for a patent?
Call on an INPI & EPO accredited expert
Our patent attorneys are authorized to act as INPI and European patent attorneys(European patent).
You are a company or an independent inventor
If you are an individual or a company, the involvement of a representative is optional. You can carry out all the formalities with INPI yourself. No specific qualifications are required, from filing to examination to granting.
Although not mandatory, the services of an agent are still recommended.
Especially if you have only a partial knowledge of patent law and the requirements of INPI examiners, it is essential to be accompanied by a competent professional. A patent attorney is not only a qualified expert to carry out procedures, but also has technical expertise in the field of your invention. Knowing and understanding all the technical aspects of your invention is a real advantage for your patent attorney. With perfect knowledge of patentability criteria and patent application deadlines, an IP attorney is an ally of choice.
The patent application is filed for several people at the same time
Research & development work regularly involves several people in projects. An invention can therefore be the fruit of a collective effort. There may be several applicants for the same patent.
When there are several applicants for the same invention, it is compulsory to use a representative to file a patent. A single representative represents all applicants.
Residence outside France, the EU or the EEA
If the applicant is not resident in France, the European Union or the European Economic Area, a representative is required to file a patent application with INPI. The European Patent Office (EPO) is responsible for European patents.
Which agent should I choose for my procedure?
Make sure the professional or company you use has the necessary approvals.
INPI, the Compagnie Nationale des Conseils en PI (CNCPI) and the Bar Association provide lists of approved professionals. In France, there are just 650 patent attorneys. Choose the right one according to the technical expertise you need to patent your invention!
With YesMyPatent, you’re just a few clicks away from an INPI- and EPO-accredited agent from Touroude & Associates, and the advice of the most competent expert for your patent application in France or abroad. In fact, we are also European patent attorneys, with a network of over 100 agents abroad!
Our specialities include:
- Electronics: Electromechanics, telecommunications
- Chemicals: Pharmaceuticals, Nanotechnology, Cosmetics, Food processing, Mechanics: Everyday objects, Automotive, Aeronautics
- Biology: Biology and Biotechnology, Agriculture
- IT: Connected objects, Software
- Mechanical engineering: Automotive, Everyday objects, Aeronautics
Read more: Filing a patent for an application, software or program
The difference between an IP patent attorney and a patent lawyer
| Patent law | Technical expertise | |
| Patent attorney | Yes | No |
| Industrial property patent attorney | Yes | Yes Double expertise to support you from drafting the patent, to filing the application and issuing the title Read more |
À lire : Filing for a patent: Choosing an IP attorney or a lawyer?
If you choose a representative who is neither an IP patent attorney nor a patent lawyer, the application must be accompanied by a power of attorney authorizing the representative to act on your behalf before the INPI.
