We Offer Strategic Legal Services
Register Your Patent in France
Secure your invention with our French intellectual property lawyers and paralegals. We handle every step of the process — from drafting your patent application to filing with the French (INPI) or European (EPO) patent offices, managing technical claims, and ensuring full legal compliance until your patent is officially granted
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What is a Patent and Why Register It?
A patent is an exclusive right granted by the French Patent Office (INPI) or the European Patent Office (EPO) that protects a technical invention — a new product, process, or technology offering a novel and inventive solution to a problem.
Registering your patent prevents competitors from manufacturing, using, or selling your invention without permission for up to 20 years. It also enhances your company’s value, strengthens investor confidence, and provides a solid foundation for licensing and international expansion.
Main Advantages :
Exclusive protection: grants you sole rights to use and commercialize your invention.
Long-term asset: protection lasts up to 20 years from filing.
Investment leverage: patents strengthen company valuation and attract investors.
Licensing opportunities: you may monetize your innovation through technology transfer.
Deterrence and enforcement: prevents competitors from copying or exploiting your idea.
A registered patent is not just a legal formality — it is a strategic tool that secures your innovation, defends your market position, and supports sustainable business growth.
How to Register Your Patent in France?
Filing a patent can seem complex, but with FrenchCo.lawyer, the process becomes clear, efficient, and fully compliant. Here’s how we assist you from start to finish:
Assessment of Patentability
We evaluate your invention to confirm that it meets all legal criteria: novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability. Our lawyers conduct preliminary searches to identify prior art and ensure your invention is unique.
Drafting the Patent Application
Our legal and technical team prepares the complete application, including the description, claims, and drawings. Each claim is crafted to ensure maximum legal protection and strategic flexibility.
Filing with the INPI or EPO
We file your application with the French Patent Office (INPI) or the European Patent Office (EPO), depending on the geographical scope you seek. We also handle priority filings under the PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty) for international coverage.
Examination and Follow-Up
We monitor your file throughout the examination process, respond to office actions or objections, and maintain communication with the patent office to ensure smooth progress until approval.
Patent Grant and Maintenance
Once approved, we secure the issuance of your patent certificate and guide you on renewal deadlines, annuity payments, and licensing or enforcement options.
Why Choose FrenchCo.lawyer?
Our firm combines legal precision with technical expertise. Every application is prepared by registered French IP lawyers, supported by patent-trained paralegals, ensuring compliance with both French and European patent law. We guarantee clarity, speed, and confidence — whether you are protecting a breakthrough invention or building a portfolio for your startup or R&D division.
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What We Need From You to Register Your Patent ?
To protect your invention efficiently, please provide:
Technical Description
A clear summary of your invention, its purpose, and how it works.
Drawings or Schematics
Visual representations illustrating your innovation or technical process.
Inventor Information
Names, nationalities, and roles of all inventors involved.
Ownership Details
Whether the patent belongs to you personally, your company, or both.
And Then?
Once we receive this information, our lawyers handle the full legal process — drafting and filing your patent application, liaising with the patent office, responding to examiner feedback, and securing your official patent certificate.
Register Your Patent – Simple Process, Clear Budget
Flat legal fee starting from €1,200 excl. taxes
Additional mandatory costs: Official INPI or EPO filing fees Translation and publication costs (if applicable)
No hidden costs, no surprises.
Our commitment:
No inflated “innovation packages”
No third-party intermediaries
Authentic legal expertise
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Why Choose Us?
We Believe in Transparent, Lawyer-Led Patent Protection
Efficient company setup: From initial consultation to Kbis registration, every stage is managed swiftly and accurately.
Fully compliant filings: Each document is drafted in line with the latest French commercial and corporate law requirements.
Robust legal protection: Our filings are structured to safeguard your interests and your company’s future compliance.
Verified professional oversight: All work is prepared and reviewed by licensed French business lawyers for full legal assurance.
We handle your company’s legal setup — so you can focus on building your success in France.
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Understanding the Protection of a Patent in France and the EU
Can a foreign inventor file and own a patent in France or the European Union?
Yes. Both individuals and legal entities, regardless of nationality, can file and own a French or European patent. The protection system under the French Intellectual Property Code (CPI) and the European Patent Convention (EPC) is open to all, whether the applicant resides in France, the EU, or outside Europe.
However, procedural rules differ depending on where the inventor or applicant is based.
1. Applicants residing abroad
Foreign inventors can freely file a patent through a qualified French or European patent attorney. No residence permit is required to obtain rights in France. The application can be submitted directly to the INPI (Institut National de la Propriété Industrielle) or, for broader coverage, to the EPO (European Patent Office).
2. EU, EEA, and Swiss nationals
Nationals of EU/EEA/Swiss states may file directly and manage correspondence with the patent offices themselves, although representation by a professional is strongly recommended.
3. Non-EU nationals
Applicants from non-EU countries must generally appoint a local representative (mandataire agréé) before the INPI or EPO to handle filings, translations, and communications.
4. International filings
Foreign inventors can also rely on the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) system, which allows a single international application to secure protection in over 150 countries, including France and the EU.
In short: you don’t need to live in France to own a French patent. But using a qualified local representative ensures compliance with formalities and smoother examination procedures.
What rights does a patent confer?
A granted patent gives the owner exclusive rights to exploit the invention. This includes the right to:
- manufacture, use, sell, or import the protected product or process;
- prevent others from doing so without authorization; and
- license or assign the patent in exchange for royalties or compensation.
These rights are territorial (limited to the countries where the patent is granted) and time-bound (up to 20 years from filing).
Who owns a patent developed by employees or contractors?
Ownership depends on who created the invention and under what circumstances.
1. Employee inventions
Under Article L.611-7 of the French Intellectual Property Code, inventions made by employees in the course of their duties automatically belong to the employer.
Employees are entitled to fair compensation, especially for “mission inventions” (created during normal work).
2. Independent contractors
If a consultant, developer, or engineer creates an invention under contract, they remain the default owner, unless the contract includes an explicit IP assignment clause.
3. Joint inventions
When several inventors contribute, the patent is held jointly. Co-ownership rules (indivision) apply, and exploitation requires mutual agreement or contractual arrangements.
In practice: always ensure that contracts specify IP transfer terms to avoid disputes.
What happens if someone infringes my patent in France?
Patent infringement (contrefaçon) occurs when a third party reproduces, uses, or sells your protected invention without authorization.
The patent owner may:
- initiate civil proceedings before the Tribunal judiciaire (specialized IP courts);
- request a saisie-contrefaçon (infringement seizure) to collect evidence;
- seek injunctions, damages, and destruction of infringing goods.
Criminal sanctions may also apply for deliberate infringement.
In urgent cases, interim measures (référé) can be requested to stop the infringement pending judgment.
- initiate civil proceedings before the Tribunal judiciaire (specialized IP courts);
Can software or algorithms be patented?
In principle, software as such is excluded from patentability.
However, if the software produces a technical effect — for example, improving data processing, image compression, or hardware control — it may be patentable as a computer-implemented invention.
Otherwise, software is protected under copyright, not patent law.
What inventions can be protected by a patent?
French and European law protect technical inventions that meet three main requirements:
- Novelty – the invention must not have been publicly disclosed anywhere before the filing date.
- Inventive step – it must not be obvious to a person skilled in the art.
- Industrial applicability – it must be capable of practical use or manufacture.
Excluded from protection are discoveries, mathematical methods, aesthetic creations, business methods, computer programs as such, and inventions contrary to public order or morality.
What are the main stages of patent protection in France?
Protecting an invention in France follows a structured process:
- Preparation and prior-art search
Before filing, a novelty search identifies existing publications or patents that may affect your invention’s originality. - Filing the application
The application includes a description, claims, drawings, and an abstract. Filing with the INPI establishes a filing date — the cornerstone of legal protection. - Formal and substantive examination
The INPI verifies that the application meets formal requirements and issues a search report assessing prior art and patentability. - Publication
After 18 months, the application is published, giving provisional rights against later infringers. - Grant and maintenance
If no objections persist, the INPI grants the patent. Annual renewal fees (annuities) must then be paid to maintain it for up to 20 years.
The same general structure applies at the EPO level, though examination is centralized for all designated EU countries.
How much does it cost to obtain and maintain a patent?
Patent costs vary depending on the scope and complexity of the invention.
Stage | Estimated cost (France) | Details |
Filing fee | ~€36–€52 | INPI administrative filing costs |
Search report | ~€520 | Mandatory for patentability examination |
Grant & publication | ~€90 | Payable before patent issuance |
Annual renewal (years 2–20) | €38 → €790 | Increases progressively per year |
For European patents filed via the EPO, fees are higher (ranging from €5,000 to €8,000 depending on the number of countries selected).
Professional attorney fees for drafting and strategy are additional but essential to ensure robust protection.
How can I protect my patent internationally?
Once a French patent application is filed, you have 12 months to extend it abroad under:
- The European Patent Convention (EPC): one centralized examination for 39 member states.
- The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT): a single filing that covers 150+ countries.
The European or international routes allow you to defer translation and national validation costs while preserving your priority date.
What is the duration of patent protection?
A French or European patent lasts 20 years from the filing date, provided annual renewal fees are paid.
For pharmaceuticals or agrochemical inventions, supplementary protection certificates (SPCs) may extend protection by up to 5 additional years.
After expiry, the invention falls into the public domain.
Register Your French Patent
Let our French lawyers & IP specialists handle your patent filing from start to finish.
More About Registering Your Patent
Who can apply for a French patent?
Any individual or company, whether based in France or abroad, can file a patent application through the INPI.
What can be protected by a patent?
Only new, inventive, and industrially applicable technical solutions can be patented — not ideas or designs.
How long does the patent registration take?
On average, 18 to 24 months from filing to grant, depending on examination timelines and responses.
Do I need to file in French?
Yes. The INPI requires applications and claims to be submitted in French, even for foreign applicants.
Can I protect my invention internationally?
Yes. You can extend protection via a European Patent or through the PCT system after your French filing.
Do I need a French representative?
- Foreign applicants must act through a French industrial property attorney or authorized representative.
What documents are required?
You’ll need a detailed description, claims, drawings (if any), and an abstract of the invention.
How long does patent protection last?
A French patent grants protection for up to 20 years from the filing date, subject to annual renewal fees.
