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Define Patents

A patent is a form of intellectual property where a government grants an inventor exclusive rights to use, sell and manufacture and profit from his invention for a specific period of time.

  1. Patentable Ideas

    • Patentable ideas must provide utility, be novel and non-obvious. A design for a new type of technology is a typical type of patentable innovation.

    Copyrights

    • Copyrights are a form of intellectual property that protect the rights of creators of new creative works such as music, literature and fine art; these types of works cannot be patented.

    Process

    • Patenting an invention requires a complex legal process whereby the invention is cataloged and described in great detail and the information submitted to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for review; this typically requires hiring a lawyer or patent agent.

    Time Frame

    • According to the the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the average time to secure a patent is about 22 months; patents can last up to 20 years after the date the application is received.

    Cost

    • Securing a patent can cost thousands of dollars due to legal fees and the cost of preparing and submitting all the required materials to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

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