What is the supplementary protection certificate?

Registering a patent in France gives you a monopoly on exploitation (i.e. an exclusive right to use a product) for a maximum period of 20 years.

French law does, however, allow the duration of this monopoly to be extended under certain conditions. For example, in the case of patents for pharmaceutical (medicinal) or phytopharmaceutical products, the duration of the monopoly can be extended by means of a supplementary protection certificate (SPC).