Dear Ophir,

thank you very much for your answer. I understand the problem, but:

Even if there is a difference in the definitions of "innovation", the requirements are almost the same. And if there´s no a real innovation, that can be cleared in a law-suit.

The utility model is called the "little patent": Easier to get, not that expensive and the protection is not that far. In my opinion a good chance for (financially weak) SMB to protect their ideas.

The utility model is not concluded in the PCT. The utility model must be declared in the country, in that you want to have the protection (not every country knows "utility models" ).
But in Germany there is a possibility to file the same innovation as an utility model and a patent. In this way you have the opportunity to get a fast protection by an utility model and in addition you can file the patent worldwide.

The applicant for the utility model in Germany can be the innovator himself, a patent-attorney or a attorney-at-law like me.

You can find good informations about the industrial property in Europa on this website: http://www.innovaccess.eu/index.jsp

Best regards,
Heidi