What is "utility model"

n. (context intellectual property legal English) An intellectual property right in certain legal systems, to protect invention, very similar to the patent, but usually with shorter term and less stringent patentability requirements.

A utility model is an intellectual property right to protect inventions. This right is available in a number of national statutes, as described below. It is very similar to the patent, but usually has a shorter term (often 6 to 15 years) and less stringent patentability requirements.

The German and Austrian utility model is called the " Gebrauchsmuster", which influenced some other countries such as Japan. In Indonesia the utility model is called a "Petty Patent".