By Arnaud Gasnier and Anton Svensson

A traditional construction and renovation contractor, the Finnish company Picote discovered and filled a niche when it developed a proprietary method of repairing smaller interior pipes without drilling or digging. With 15 years of business expertise, it designed and developed materials, tools and methods to adapt an existing lining technique originally used for large infrastructure pipes to fit smaller diameter pipes used in buildings. Patents have played a major role in supporting the adoption of this new, innovation-based business model. Picote recognised that IP rights were the most effective means of protection for its easy-to-copy mechanical solutions. Because it is expanding throughout Europe, it is considering using the Unitary Patent and the Unified Patent Court to avoid parallel litigation.