See at a glance the differences between patents and utility certificates
The utility certificate, a lightweight patent

Although French patents and utility certificates have certain aspects in common, utility certificates do not allow the same actions as patents.

For example, there is no centralized procedure for obtaining a utility model/certificate in several countries at once, similar to the PCT for patents.

Nor is it possible to apply for a supplementary protection certificate to extend the duration of protection conferred by a utility certificate for an invention in the pharmaceutical or phytosanitary fields.

There is no opposition procedure for utility certificates.

The table below summarizes the differences and similarities between patents and utility certificates.