Question: Recently, a lawyer told me that if my company makes a product (in my case an electronic board) like another **patented product** on the market, but my product adds functionality to the original product, then my product would automatically be a “utility model” and not violate any patents.

But I read online that a utility model is itself a patent. And now I'm a little confused.

**What is the real difference between a patent and an utility model?**

Can my utility model can be replaced by another utility model?

> 
> My jurisdiction is Italy but the patented product may be protected by
>  patents in other countries including US.
> 
> 
>

Answer: 
The potpourri.

The patent claims potpourri as an element of the invention. In other words, in order to be anticipating prior art to the claims of this patent, the items you're thinking of would have to include potpourri and would also have to be in the shape of a fruit, vegetable, nut, tree, animal, sea creature, reptile, or star. (Kind of a ridiculous utility patent, imho, but there you go.)
Ah. I am confused then, because claims 10 through 20 of the patent all say decorative items rather than potpourri and define the item as a decorative holder, no longer just a potpourri holder. You are saying these claims listed are actually an abstract? Sorry if I'm missing something obvious here.