Company Creation: Keep your idea and product safe
Verified 29 March 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
Are you worried that a competitor might steal your idea or project? The 1re question to ask yourself is: what do you want to protect? An idea, a project, or a product, a drawing, etc. avoid possible thefts depending on your project.
Protect your idea
L'Inpi: titleContent makes available the e-Soleau service.
This online service allows you to submit your idea online.
It provides proof of your creation at a given date.
FYI
Whether or not you chose the Soleau envelope, the best way to protect your idea is to keep it secret.
You must create a personal account on the website of theInpi: titleContent, in space e-procedures.
E-soleau: drop a Soleau envelope online
You upload your files online.
This is the description (by text) of your project or the reproduction by schematic, drawing or photograph of your project.
A repository can hold up to 3 documents for a maximum size of 300 MB.
The date that is taken into account for start of protection is the date of your deposit to theInpi: titleContent.
You will receive a confirmation email.
The email mentions the following:
- Date of filing
- List of documents filed and their electronic "footprint". This is the electronic archive number.
The e-Soleau service allows you to archive your documents for 5 years on your personal space.
You can extend this protection for an additional 5 years by applying to theInpi: titleContent. The date that is taken into account for start of protection is the date of your deposit to theInpi: titleContent.
The cost of renewal is €15/10MB.
After a first renewal of 5 years, the Inpi destroys your documents.
You can request their return before the end of the additional 5 years.
The request can be made at the following address:
Who shall I contact
Inpi - Soleau Envelope Management
You can do the 3 steps following:
- Drop a paper sun envelope
- Apply for renewal of coverage
- Request your envelope return
For the 3 steps, send a postal mail to the following address:
Inpi - Office of Designs
Managing Sun Envelopes
15 rue des Minimes - CS 50001
92677 Courbevoie Cedex
There are two possible scenarios: either someone wants to prove that you did not create your idea, or you want to prove that your idea was stolen.
We're challenging your idea
If a person challenges the fact that you are the author of an idea and brings the matter before the competent court, the President of the court will then ask theInpi: titleContent of unarchive your e-Soleau envelope for it to be introduced as evidence.
You can also ask the Inpi directly for the envelope to be opened. It is strongly recommended toopen the envelope in the presence of a Commissioner of Justice. The Commissioner of Justice shall draw up a report proving the contents of the envelope.
You must keep these minutes and the contents of the open envelope.
You're challenging an idea
If you think someone has stolen your idea or you want to prove that you had the idea before someone else, you have to go to the appropriate court.
The President of the Tribunal shall then ask theInpi: titleContent of unarchive your e-Soleau envelope for it to be introduced as evidence.
It is the comparison of the contents of the 2 compartments that authenticates the document.
Who shall I contact
Protect your product
Your concept, your idea has taken a materialized form. You can then protect your product.
We present the most common products and how to protect.
You can also consult thesearch tool made available by theInpi: titleContent :
Find the right protection for multiple product types
Domain Name
One procedure is to be followed to protect the name of your website.
Computer code
Your website consists of a computer code.
Protection is provided by the copyright.
She's automatic.
You can contact theInpi: titleContent for specific questions:
Photos, texts and music from your site
Protection is provided by the copyright.
She's automatic.
You can contact theInpi: titleContent for specific questions:
Who shall I contact
All that identifies your product or your company in visible can become a mark.
The name, slogan, logo of your product or company must be registered with theInpi: titleContent.
Your brand is protected for 10 years.
The cost of filing a trademark depends on the number of items you want to protect. Count between €50 and €300.
How to register a trademark?
You must do this in 2 steps :
- Check the availability of the brand
- Deposit your brand
The 2 steps are done with theInpi: titleContent.
1 - You check the availability of your brand (name, logo, etc.) by the following search tool:
Check availability of a brand, logo, domain name, design (fee)
2 - You register your brand thanks to the on-line service next:
Game Name
All that identifies your product or your company in visible can become a mark.
The name of your video game must be registered as a trade mark with theInpi: titleContent.
Your brand is protected for 10 years.
The cost of filing a trademark depends on the number of items you want to protect. Count between €50 and €300.
How to register a trademark?
You must do this in 2 steps :
- Check the availability of the brand
- Deposit your brand
The 2 steps are done with theInpi: titleContent.
1 - You check the availability of your brand (name, logo, etc.) by the following search tool:
Check availability of a brand, logo, domain name, design (fee)
2 - You register your brand thanks to the on-line service next:
Please note
you can also watch the video proposed by theEUIPO: titleContent and theInpi: titleContent. It explains how to register a trademark.
Cartoon and game music
Protection is provided by the copyright.
She's automatic.
You can contact theInpi: titleContent for specific questions:
Computer code
Your video game consists of a computer code.
Protection is provided by the copyright.
She's automatic.
You can contact theInpi: titleContent for specific questions:
Who shall I contact
It is a new product or technique, previously unknown.
Example :
At the time of their creation, these products (or processes) were innovative: DTP (computer-aided production), Internet sales, airbag, electric bicycle, mobile phone, etc.
The patent filing helps protect your innovation.
The protection lasts 20 years.
The cost of the deposit varies between €20,000 and €40,000.
Please note
you can opt for a utility certificate. Its protection is 10 years only. It is suitable for short-lived innovations.
To finance your patent, you can use the research tax credit (CIR) or turn to funding agencies.
The appearance of your products is of strategic importance.
This creation distinguishes you from the competition and seduces the consumer.
You have 2 ways of protect the design or aesthetic shape of an object.
- Let his design is new, i.e. innovative, it has never been seen before on the market (artisanal or industrial). You can then protect it with a drawing (2D) or model (3D) deposition inInpi: titleContent.
- Either the design is not innovative, but it is by nature artistic. It is then protected by the copyright.
The cost of the deposit is €70.
Its protection lasts 5 years.
How do I deposit a drawing or model?
You have to check if your design or model does not already exist.
Availability of a drawing or model
You have to do the online filing of your design with the Inpi with the following service:
Drop a drawing or model online
Copyright protects an artistic design
The protection of an artistic design is done by the copyright.
She's automatic.
You can contact theInpi: titleContent for specific questions:
You are an entrepreneur in the field of agriculture or wine.
You process or manufacture agri-food or wine products.
You have 2 ways of protect your products:
- Your expertise: PGI: titleContent
- The strong link between the terroir and your product: AOC: titleContent (French) or PDO: titleContent (European)
We'll explain how to get both of these recognitions.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
Protecting the link between the product and the region (PDO and PDO)
Definition
The label AOC: titleContent guarantees the geographical origin of your product, at the terroir.
It is valid in the territory French.
He or she designates a product, all the stages of production of which are registered according to a recognized know-how in the same geographical area.
This strong link with the terroir gives its characteristics to the product.
Example :
Normandy Camembert, Espelette pepper, Cotentin cider, Chablis, Champagne, Ardèche chestnut, Grenoble nut, Puy green lentil, Nîmes olive
The European equivalent isPDO: titleContent.
Please note
You cannot apply for the French label AOC: titleContent if your product already has the European label PDO: titleContent.
The recognized product with a AOC: titleContent or a PDO: titleContent has a very precise specification.
How to request recognition in AOC: titleContent or PDO: titleContent ?
We explain below the procedure and the steps to apply.
You will also find the documents to be provided for this request.
Protecting regional know-how (PGI)
Definition
L'PGI: titleContent identifies an agricultural product, raw or processed, including the quality or the reputation are linked to its regional geographical origin.
It applies to the agricultural, agri-food and wine sectors on the French territory.
The product has a specification more flexible only products with a AOC: titleContent or a PDO: titleContent.
Example :
Quercy farm lamb, Collioure anchovy, Savoy emmental, Bayonne ham, Adour kiwi, Berry green lentils and 75 French wine-growing pools (country wines)
How to request recognition in PGI: titleContent ?
We explain below the procedure and the steps to apply.
You will also find the documents to be provided for this request.
You create packaging for products.
You have 3 ways to protect your creations according to the innovative or not of the packaging.
- Either your creations are of nature artisticThey are then protected by copyright.
- Either your packaging has a innovative design, you can then protect them with a drawing deposit (or model) with the Inpi.
- Either the manufacturing process of your packaging is innovative, you can then protect the manufacturing process by patent filing to the Inpi.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
Art Packaging
The protection of an artistic design is done by the copyright.
She's automatic.
You can contact theInpi: titleContent for specific questions:
Innovative packaging design
The design of your product is a business strategy important.
If it has a character innovative, that he's never been seen before, you can protect him.
You have to check if your design or model does not already exist.
Availability of a drawing or model
You have to do the online filing of your design with the Inpi with the following service:
Drop a drawing or model online
The cost of the deposit is €70.
Its protection lasts 5 years.
Innovative manufacturing process
If you've created an innovative manufacturing process (that's never been created before), you can protect it.
To do this, you need to file a patent.
The protection lasts 20 years.
The cost of the deposit varies between €20,000 and €40,000.
Please note
you can opt for a utility certificate. Its protection is 10 years only. It is suitable for short-lived innovations.
To finance your patent, you can use the research tax credit (CIR) or turn to funding agencies.
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
Definition of copyright
Protection of works of the mind
Marking: setting, saving
Applications for Designation of Origin (PDO and PDO) or Geographical Indication (PGI)
Search tools
Online service
Online service
Online service
Online service
Online service
Online service
National Institute of Industrial Property (Inpi)
EUIPO (European Union Intellectual Property Office)
National Institute of Industrial Property (Inpi)
National Institute of Industrial Property (Inpi)
National Institute of Industrial Property (Inpi)