Patents are rights that protect inventions in all fields of technology.

Why Patents Are Important

Worldwide, approximately three million inventions are filed for patent protection each year, and Germany is a European leader both in patent applications and in granted patents. Technical intellectual property rights (patents, utility models) safeguard one’s own innovations and thus the investment in new developments. A technical IP right confers a monopoly vis-à-vis all third parties, allowing the right holder to exclude others from using the protected technical subject matter (offering, selling, etc.).

Our Services

An individual strategy for the optimal use of your portfolio of existing and future patents is always the starting point of DTS’s work.
We distinguish between the development of one’s own IP portfolio (constructive patent strategy) and the elimination of third-party IP rights (corrective patent strategy).

At an early stage, DTS supports clients in conducting and evaluating patent searches as well as in preparing opinions on patentability and dependence on third-party patent rights.

Constructive Patent Strategy

Through DTS, IP rights can be obtained both nationally and internationally. DTS undertakes the drafting of the application, the representation during the examination and grant proceedings before the national patent offices, the defense of the granted IP rights against third-party attacks, and the enforcement of these rights against (imitating) third parties — thus ensuring that the investment in proprietary IP rights pays off.

When drafting patent applications, DTS offers in-depth technical expertise. Our clients’ technologies are studied intensively, and it is our aim to gain a thorough understanding of the technical field entrusted to us. This enables us to prepare a substantive application even on the basis of brief invention disclosures and to integrate embodiments and detailed explanations of individual features which, in subsequent grant or validity proceedings, may be decisive for distinguishing the invention from the prior art and for achieving successful patent grant.

In addition to drafting and prosecuting patent applications, DTS also provides comprehensive support throughout the term of the patent, including assistance in identifying patentable further developments.

Corrective Patent Strategy

On the other hand, IP rights are occasionally granted to others inadvertently. In such cases, these rights must be eliminated to the necessary extent in order to correct the created monopoly position. DTS supports clients with extensive expertise in representing them in opposition and opposition appeal proceedings as well as in nullity and nullity appeal proceedings. In individual cases, an action for transfer of the disputed patent (vindication action) may also be brought before the civil courts if inventions have been unlawfully filed by third parties.

What DTS Stands For

Our clients value our commitment to preparing high-quality priority applications as well as to supplementing and adapting subsequent applications to international requirements and regulations. For subsequent international or in general foreign applications DTS offers a full service. DTS organizes, coordinates, and supervises all steps, from preparing any required translations and ensuring the formal correctness of the documentation to appointing a selected correspondent attorney experienced in the client’s technology and the respective national procedure. In this way, a patent portfolio can be created within the targeted budget and, if necessary, successfully enforced before the courts based on the experience of DTS attorneys.