This article will outline the relevant issues which relate to the above question.
Simply put once you have been successful in your application you will receive a monopoly which lasts for 20 years whether you have filed in the UK or EU.
The 20 years duration is subject to renewals and the validity of the patent.
The effect of your successful patent application is that you have the exclusive right to exploit that technology – exploitation can be in the form of a licence or assignment to another or simply utilising the technology by yourself.
For more information on the management of your patent portfolio please contract this office and speak to one of our patents experts.
