The classic mini is one of the most recognisable cars ever produced. 64 years ago, in August 1959, the first images of the mini were revealed to the press. The small size, the boxy shape and the distinctive round headlights, contributed to the mini becoming the most popular British car ever made, with over 5 million cars sold worldwide.
Protecting your intellectual property (IP) is key for any business with a focus on research and development. A patent grants its proprietor monopoly protection on a defined technical scope in the geographical region covered by the patent, for the lifetime of the patent.
The priority year is a well-known and well-used feature of the patent system. In short, the priority year provides applicants with 12 months from the filing of an initial patent application, within which to file additional patent applications to the same invention in other countries or jurisdictions. This allows applicants to ‘plant a flag in the sand’ for their invention, while deferring the costs associated with multiple filings.
