Can one, without yet having obtained the patent, legally act against someone copying him?
Depositing a patent application offers the owner various guarantees even before it is effectively granted, amongst which is the possibility of legally acting against those copying it. However, even if the lawsuit can be started on the base of just the application, it is nevertheless indispensable that the patent is granted before reaching the sentence, as if then the patent is missing the judge will have to reject the action by the inventor and condemn him for the legal expenses. Besides asking the stopping of the production, a damage compensation for the produced items can be requested, calculating the loss of earnings due to the fact that a third person produced without the consent. The proceeding will be long and difficult and a lot will depend on the technical surveys and the way the patent has been edited, meaning how complete and clear the description was, but if the elements are there you can get gratification.