What are Patents?

A patent gives an inventor exclusive rights to use their invention for a limited time. These rights will prevent other parties from copying or selling the invention without the permission of the inventor. 

• Patents can be obtained for products or processes.
• Usually 20 years
• Patents protect the features and processes that make things work. Protect how things work, how it is made and what from. 
• Let inventors profit from their inventions.
• Can sell the rights of the patent. 
• Patents should have an inventive step, not obvious or simple adaptation or combination of existing products.  

Types of Patent:

1. Utility patents (20 yrs) – new and useful process, machine, manufacture of composition of matter
2. Design patents – for novel design in an article of manufacture. (14 yrs)
3. Plant patents