Patent protection

For technical inventions
A patent protects the technical solutions in a new product or production process. The patent (exclusive right) means that other people have to ask your permission to use, produce or sell your invention. In other words, they have to pay (granting a licence).

Applying for a patent
The Netherlands Patent Office issues patents. The agency is an independent part of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs. It has 60 million patents in its files. You can consult this source of technical information free of charge. You can apply for a patent yourself or ask a patent agent to do it for you. Patent agents are legally specialized in the field of patents, brands and models.