"A patent is a type of intellectual property that gives its owner the legal right to exclude others from making, using, or selling an invention for a limited period of time in exchange for publishing an enabling disclosure of the invention."
Legal protection for inventions or discoveries that are novel, useful, and non-obvious.
Patent Law Basics: A general overview of what intellectual property law is, how it differs from other areas of law, the different types of intellectual property, and what patents are.
Patentable Subject Matter: What types of inventions and discoveries qualify for patent protection under the law. This includes discussion of the patentability of things like software, business methods, and genetic material.
Novelty: The requirement that an invention be new and not obvious in order to be patented. This includes a discussion of prior art and how it can affect patentability.
Nonobviousness: The second requirement for patentability, which examines whether an invention would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the relevant field.
Patent Application: The process of applying for a patent, including the various elements of a patent application and the role of the patent office.
Patent Prosecution: The process of communicating with the patent examiner who reviews your patent application.
Patent Litigation: The process of enforcing or defending a patent in court, including a discussion of infringement, validity, and remedies.
Licensing: The process of allowing others to use your patented invention in exchange for compensation.
International Patent Law: A discussion of the differences between patent laws in different countries and the role of the World Intellectual Property Organization.
Patent Strategy: How to develop a strategic approach to patenting your invention, including considerations like commercialization, licensing, and patent portfolio management.
Patentability Search: Searching existing patent databases to determine if your invention is novel and non-obvious.
Freedom to Operate: Analyzing the risk of infringing on someone else's patent, and developing strategies to avoid infringement.
Patent Enforcement: How to take legal action against someone who has infringed on your patent.
Patentability Opinions: Professional opinions on the likelihood of obtaining a patent on an invention or the validity of an existing patent.
Patent Assignment: The transfer of patent ownership.
Patent Maintenance: How to maintain your patents over time, including paying maintenance fees and ensuring your patents remain valid.
Utility Patents: This type of patent is granted for new and useful inventions, machines, processes, composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof.
Design Patents: Design patents are granted for a novel and ornamental design of an article of manufacture.
Plant Patents: Plant patents are granted for new and distinct varieties of asexually reproduced plants.
Provisional Patents: A provisional patent application provides temporary protection for an invention while a utility patent application is being prepared.
International Patents: International patents protect an invention in multiple countries. They are granted through the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).
"A patent is a type of intellectual property that gives its owner the legal right to exclude others from making, using, or selling an invention for a limited period of time..."
"TRIPS also provides that the term of protection available should be a minimum of twenty years."
"...provided they are new, involve an inventive step, and are capable of industrial application."
"...gives its owner the legal right to exclude others from making, using, or selling an invention..."
"The patent holder must sue someone infringing the patent in order to enforce their rights."
"A patent application must include one or more claims that define the scope of protection that is being sought."
"The procedure for granting patents, requirements placed on the patentee, and the extent of the exclusive rights vary widely between countries according to national laws and international agreements."
"[The patent owner] gives its owner the legal right to exclude others from making, using, or selling an invention... in exchange for publishing an enabling disclosure of the invention."
"There are other patent-like forms of intellectual property, such as utility models, which have a shorter monopoly period."
"Under the World Trade Organization's (WTO) TRIPS Agreement, patents should be available in WTO member states..."
"...provided they are new, involve an inventive step, and are capable of industrial application."
"In most countries, patent rights fall under private law..."
"The patent holder must sue someone infringing the patent in order to enforce their rights."
"A patent application must include one or more claims that define the scope of protection that is being sought."
"...there are variations on what is patentable subject matter from country to country, also among WTO member states."
"TRIPS also provides that the term of protection available should be a minimum of twenty years."
"[The invention] should be new, involve an inventive step, and be capable of industrial application."
"There are other patent-like forms of intellectual property, such as utility models, which have a shorter monopoly period."
"Under the World Trade Organization's (WTO) TRIPS Agreement, patents should be available in WTO member states for any invention, in all fields of technology..."