Abstract

New products in the field of cosmetics, be it an active ingredient, a new formulation of known ingredients, an application system etc., often afford years of research and development before approaching the market. Only a time of exclusive use ensures that this investment is worthwhile. Therefore, the developer of a new cosmetic product should seek for a comprehensive protection against potential counterfeiters. In this article we present options for a protection that is as complete as possible by effective use of the available intellectual property rights (IP rights). Furthermore, we give some important notes to avoid patent infringement when marketing cosmetic compositions.