For IP professionals
This is the portal for professionals working in the field of intellectual property. Here you'll find direct access to all necessary resources.
Quick links
- Trade Mark Database
- Register changes for trade marks
- Swissreg
- Madrid Monitor
- TMview
- E-trademark
- International trade mark registration
- Trade Mark Guidelines (German, French, Italian)
- Classification tool for trade marks
- Trade mark examination support tool
- Trade marks: Costs and fees
- Trade marks: WIPO fee calculator
- Cancellation procedure for trade marks on the grounds of non-use
- Protected public signs: Abbreviations
- Protected public signs: Other signs (emblems)
- Directory of Intellectual Property Offices
- Trade marks: News Service Archive
- Patents: Patent Examination Guidelines (German, French)
- Patents: Fees
News
Can ideas be protected?
Ideas, as such, cannot be protected, however, under certain conditions the concrete form of the idea can be:
- Technical solutions to a problem can be protected by a patent (e.g., heatable ski boots)
- The name of a product or a logo can be protected by registering a trade mark (e.g., Ricola)
- A product form can be protected by depositing a design (e.g., Colani bottle)
- Literary works, art and computer programs are protected by copyrights
An idea alone is not patentable, but the exact instructions for arriving at the solution to a technical problem are. The realization of the idea must be accurately described.
Discoveries, aesthetic forms, and business systems are not considered inventions in Switzerland and thus cannot be patented. A discovery refers to finding something which already exists and simply describing it, or, in other words, an invention expands the technical possibilities of mankind while a discovery only expands our knowledge.
More examples of what is not patentable is under «What is an invention».
Good to know
- Computer programs, as such, are not patentable, but, inventions based on such programs are (for example, electronic steering). More information on computer-based inventions can be found on page 14 of our patent examination guidelines (available in German (pdf) and French (pdf)).
Further information
- What is intellectual property?
- No protection for?
News
24.05.2022 | Patents, Trade Marks
A strategy for success – how a Swiss start-up protects its inventions
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18.05.2022 | Media release, IPI
Federal Council adopts strategic objectives for Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property
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17.05.2022 | Patents, Trade Marks, Law and policy, Designs
Termination of the Agreement between Switzerland and Germany on Reciprocal Protection for Patents, Designs and Trade Marks
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Events
14.04.2022 | Patents, Event, IPI
EPO/IPI - invitation to a free public online seminar on patenting topics in green tech
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01.10.2021 | Event, Partners and initiatives, IPI
How SMEs protect their primary raw material – know-how
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