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In German and Austrian patent laws, the ''Gebrauchsmuster'' (GebrM), also known as German utility model or Austrian utility model, is a patent-like, intellectual property right protecting inventions. The Gebrauchsmuster is slightly different from the patent. It mainly differs from the patent in that processes and methods cannot be protected by a Gebrauchsmuster, only products can. Furthermore, the term of a Gebrauchsmuster, that is its maximal lifetime, is 10 years from the date of registration. In contrast, a patent has usually a term of 20 years from the date of filing of the application. == Germany == The German utility model has some interesting characteristics, when compared to the German patent or to the European patent designating Germany: * Prior art considered for examining novelty and inventive step is somewhat more limited: * * Oral disclosures are not taken into account, only written disclosures are taken into account; * * Public prior use outside Germany is not taken into account; * * A six-month grace period before the priority date is provided for written disclosures or prior public use made by applicants or their predecessors in title. * They are not substantially examined. Only registration is sufficient to obtain a utility model. German utility models are made available to the public directly when they are registered (''Eintragungstag'', the date of entry of the German utility model in the register of utility models of the German Patent and Trademark Office (DPMA)), i.e. before the publication date (''Bekanntmachung''):〔 (EPO Board of Appeal Decision of 28 November 2008, Case Number: T 0355/07 ), Reasons 3.〕〔"''... German utility models ("Gebrauchsmuster") are already publicly available as of their date of entry in the Register of utility models ("Eintragungstag"), which precedes the date of announcement in the Patent Bulletin ("Bekanntmachung im Patentblatt").''" in ("State of the art", "General remarks and definition").〕 In contrast, patents are made available to the public 18 months after the filing date, unless the applicant requests early publication. The German ''Gebrauchsmuster'' is regulated by German Gebrauchsmuster Act (in German: ''Gebrauchsmustergesetz'') and German Gebrauchsmuster Ordinance (in German: ''Verordnung zur Ausführung des Gebrauchsmustergesetzes''). 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Gebrauchsmuster」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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