Definition of Patent
According to the United States Patent and Trademark Office the definition of patent is a property right granted
to an inventor for his or her invention. When an inventor has the property rights to his or her invention the
patent ensures that others cannot make, use, or sell the invention for a set period of time without the inventor's
permission. With a government issued patent, the inventor has the sole right to make, use, and sell their invention
because they have the exclusive right or title to their invention. A patent is granted in exchange for the
inventor's public disclosure of the invention. In general, a patent has a term of 20 years but patents may have
varying durations.
Patents are considered a part of intellectual property law because another definition of patent is intellectual
property. Exclusive rights to intellectual property are important because they allow the inventor to have a legal
monopoly over the product thereby allowing the inventor to collect monopoly profits. Intellectual property includes
but is not limited to: discoveries and inventions, music, designs, phrases and symbols. Patents give inventors
exclusive rights to intellectual property, also referred to as intangible assets. Intellectual property may also be
considered artistic or commercial creations of the mind. These creations must meet several guidelines to be
eligible for a patent and the particular criteria which must be met by these inventions include: new, inventive,
and industrially applicable.
Individuals desiring to obtain a patent for their invention may want to contact an attorney well-versed in
intellectual property law. An attorney knowledgeable of this field of law can help inventors ensure that all
paperwork for the patent is completed in a proper and timely manner. An intellectual property law attorney can also
assist those that believe that an infringement upon their patent has occurred. Attorneys experienced in
intellectual property law issues can help inventors understand the patent process and provide the professional,
legal guidance they need to acquire a patent for their invention.
Last Modified: 03 December 2009
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