Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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Question 172: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the supports available for persons when applying for patents in view of the fact that the cost of using an agency can be prohibitive; the support available for persons who have no previous experience in applying for patents; his plans to increase the number of patent applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12326/11]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department, through the work of the Patents Office, Enterprise Ireland and the County Enterprise Boards offer a range of supports to assist and enable entrepreneurs and enterprises to engage in the optimal exploitation of research and development, and specifically in applying for patents. The Patents Office is an independent statutory body whose functions are concerned with the granting of patents, registration of trademarks and designs and the administration and maintenance of these industrial property rights. The Office is charged with assessing and adjudicating on patent applications after they are submitted formally and the appropriate fees are paid.

The Office provides information supports to applicants through the Office's website www.patentsoffice.ie, including a detailed Patent Application Guide for applicants who wish to file a patent application without using the services of a patent agent. The Patents Office also provides an Intellectual Property (IP) clinic service providing members of the public, inventors, entrepreneurs and business people an opportunity to discuss with Patents Office staff their ideas and matters concerning IP (patent, trade mark or design) applications they intend to make or have already made to the Office. These one to one meetings are very supportive in providing basic guidance on procedures and forms required for the registration of IP rights, the process of obtaining IP protection in Ireland or abroad and the timeframes involved, assistance in constructing a do-it-yourself search strategy for patents, trade marks or registered designs and accessing and using online patent, trade mark and design databases. To avail of this service, an appointment should be made through The Patents Office Information Centre at (056) 7720126 or by email at patlib@patentsoffice.ie.

Enterprise Ireland also provide advice on intellectual property matters to companies in Ireland, supported by the Enterprise Europe Network. Companies are guided in the use of free resources such as the Patent Office databases and Espacenet, the European patent searching tool. It is intended to further enhance this support through the appointment of a dedicated person in Enterprise Ireland to assist entrepreneurs who wish to protect their technology. This new central contact will be responsible for all intellectual property related queries from companies and the higher education research system.

Since April 2010, the Patents Office, Enterprise Ireland, the Enterprise Europe Network and County Enterprise Boards have partnered to present seminars at a range of regional locations under the working title of "Building a Business on your Ideas". Seminars have taken place in Kilkenny, Donegal, Thurles, Dublin, Cork and Galway, with further events planned for Dundalk and Dublin again. The events have been well attended and very strong interest has been shown in the various supports available.

In conclusion it should be borne in mind that, because patent law and practice, and the drafting of the specification describing an invention, are detailed and complex matters, unless the applicant has had specialised training in this field it is advisable that consideration be given to engaging the services of a patent agent. The number of patent applications from Ireland to the European Patents Office increased from 484 in 2008 to 490 in 2009, while 961 applications for patents were received by the Irish Patents Office. I am satisfied that national supports for research, development and innovation will continue to result in new inventions that are patented.