HypnoVR obtains a European patent for its digital pain and anxiety management therapy.

In the dynamic world of startups, and specifically in the medical device sector, obtaining patents is a crucial milestone. For an innovative company like HypnoVR, the process starts with a unique invention as early as 2016, followed by in-depth research to ensure its novelty. The next step involves drafting a patent application, a meticulous technical and legal document detailing the invention.

Once an application has been filed, the Patent Office examines its validity on the basis of criteria such as novelty, inventive step and industrial applicability. This process can last several years, during which regular exchanges between the inventor and the patent office are necessary to clarify or adjust certain aspects. Once a patent has been granted, it gives the startup exclusive rights to its invention. A striking example is Medtronic, whose patents on innovative medical devices have made it a leader in its sector.

This obstacle course is as complex as it is time-consuming, and startups are often ill-equipped to deal with the expertise of the patent office. In this context, the right support can help you go further. At HypnoVR, we have been working with ICOSA for many years to protect our patents.

After 5 years, the innovation developed by HypnoVR is now recognized and protected not only in France, but also in Europe. HypnoVR becomes the first European player in its field to have its innovation protected at European level,this is a guarantee of confidence and security for HypnoVR’s hospital and clinic customers, industrial partners in the deployment of its solution, and current and future investors, for whom intellectual property is a major issue.

While patents are a cornerstone of innovation and idea protection, they are also one of the pillars of an intellectual property strategy designed to protect all the intangible assets developed by HypnoVR. These include, of course, the trademarks in which the company invests to develop its business and products, the computer code on which the software it develops is based, and the drawings illustrating the actual design of its products and services.

Given the long time it takes to obtain a patent, it’s legitimate to wonder about the value of this investment in view of the often short lifespan of start-ups, which risk disappearing before even benefiting from this protection. Industry plays a crucial role in the development of an intellectual property strategy. In the case of HypnoVR, for example, which specializes in medical devices, this strategy has gradually developed into a major intangible asset for the company. In particular, it has enabled HypnoVR to effectively defend its rights against a European competitor attempting to use its trademark in other countries.