Glossary · Intellectual Property
Patent
patent-dc50dd6c1336a0a1-2026-07-28
- Type
- Glossary
- Jurisdiction
- National
- Date
- 2026-07-28
- Topic
- Intellectual Property
A government grant giving an inventor the right to exclude others from making, using, or selling an invention for a limited term, generally 20 years from filing for utility patents. In exchange, the inventor must publicly disclose how the invention works in enough detail for others to practice it. To be patentable, an invention must be novel, non-obvious, and directed to eligible subject matter.
Definition
A government grant giving an inventor the right to exclude others from making, using, or selling an invention for a limited term, generally 20 years from filing for utility patents. In exchange, the inventor must publicly disclose how the invention works in enough detail for others to practice it. To be patentable, an invention must be novel, non-obvious, and directed to eligible subject matter.
Patent. A government grant giving an inventor the right to exclude others from making, using, or selling an invention for a limited term, generally 20 years from filing for utility patents. In exchange, the inventor must publicly disclose how the invention works in enough detail for others to practice it. To be patentable, an invention must be novel, non-obvious, and directed to eligible subject matter. Example: The company chose patent protection for its sensor design but kept the calibration process as a trade secret.