Simple English definitions for legal terms
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A utility model is a type of patent that gives inventors exclusive rights to their invention in some countries for a shorter period of time than a regular patent. Unlike patents, utility models usually require little or no search and are only available for machines, not chemicals. They are also known as petty patents, second-tier patents, small inventions, or Gebrauchsmuster in German.
A utility model is a type of patent registration system that provides patent-like rights in some countries. It is usually granted for a shorter term than a regular patent and requires little or no search. Utility-model patents are not available in the U.S. or Great Britain, but are offered in Japan and many European countries, including Germany and France. They are only available for machines and not for chemicals.
These examples illustrate how a utility model can provide patent-like protection for inventions, but with less stringent requirements than a regular patent. This can be useful for inventors who have created something new and useful, but may not have the resources to go through a full patent application process.