KNOWLEDGE BASE

IP protection knowledge — without the legal jargon

Articles, guides and news on patents, trademarks, designs and technology commercialisation. I write the way I talk with clients — concretely and with an engineer's approach.

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I publish new entries regularly — check back for practical knowledge.

Featured entry

News

30.06.2026

Amendment to the Industrial Property Law — what changes for applicants in 2026

I review the most important changes to filing procedures and fees, and point out what to watch when planning an application this year. Practical takeaways for companies, universities and individual inventors.

Patents and utility models

24.06.2026

Patent or utility model? How to choose the right protection route

Two routes for protecting technical solutions — I compare time, cost and requirements to make the decision easier.

Patent searches / FTO

18.06.2026

Freedom-to-operate (FTO) search — why it's worth doing before launch

An FTO analysis can save a company from a costly dispute. I explain when and why to commission one.

Trademarks

11.06.2026

Registering a trademark at EUIPO — step by step

A practical guide to the EU procedure: goods classes, conflict searches and the most common pitfalls.

Industrial designs

05.06.2026

Industrial design: how to protect a product's appearance effectively

When protecting a product's aesthetic form makes sense and how to combine it with technical protection.

IP guides

29.05.2026

Disclosure before filing — an inventor's most common mistake

A publication, trade fair or presentation can strip a solution of its novelty. I explain how to avoid it.

Technology consulting

21.05.2026

How to assess the implementation potential of a technology from the lab

The criteria I use for an initial assessment of R&D projects before deciding on commercialisation.

Funding and grants

14.05.2026

Grants for patent protection — which programmes to use in 2026

An overview of funding sources for domestic and foreign application costs for SMEs and research units.

Patents and utility models

07.05.2026

Patent claims — why they decide the scope of protection

The most important part of an application. I show how the drafting of claims translates into the real value of the right.

News

30.04.2026

Renewal fees at the UPRP — current rates and deadlines for 2026

A summary of the fees for maintaining protection and a reminder of how not to miss the deadlines.

About the author

Piotr Rytlewski

Patent attorney · engineer

I prepare the knowledge base entries drawing on my day-to-day practice as a patent attorney and my earlier engineering experience. I translate the intricacies of IP protection into plain, concrete language.

14+ years of experience
200+ patent cases

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