How to Apply for a Patent License

Filing a patent application can be a long but ultimately rewarding process.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is the authority that determines patent licensing in the United States. A USPTO patent gives property rights to an inventor who files the appropriate materials and meets the office's standards. According to the USPTO, a patent grant gives "the right to exclude others from making, using, offering for sale or selling" the invention in the United States or importing the invention into the United States.

Instructions

1. Visit the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office website (see Resources) to file an application to secure your patent license.

2. Select a patent application from among three options: utility patent, design patent or plant patent. Utility patents are granted to someone who invents a new and useful process, machine or composition. Design patents are granted to those who invent a new and "original ornamental design for an article of manufacture." Plant patents are granted to those who invent or discover a new variety of plant.

3. Read the USPTO's extensive guide to filing a utility patent application -- the most common of the patent applications -- under the "Utility Patent" tab.

4. Fill out the step-by-step application, following the prompts in each section. Use the same process if filing for a design or plant patent.

5. Wait to hear back from the USPTO to learn whether your patent license has been granted.

References

• United States Patent and Trademark Office: Process for Obtaining a Utility Patent

Resources

• U.S. Patent and Trademark Office