A patent is a form of intellectual property that grants the inventor exclusive rights to use, manufacture, sell, or import their invention for a specific period of time. In return, the inventor must publicly disclose the details of the invention, enabling others to learn from and improve upon it.
Any individual or entity that has invented a new, useful, and non-obvious product or process can apply for a patent.
Patent protection lasts for 20 years from the date of filing the application, subject to payment of renewal fees.
The process involves conducting a patent search, drafting the application, filing it with the patent office, publication, examination, and grant of patent. If the patent application is found to be satisfactory, a patent is granted.
Yes, a patent can be assigned, licensed, or transferred to another party by the patent holder.
Patent prosecution is the process of responding to objections or rejections raised by the patent examiner during the examination stage.
After publication, the patent office conducts an examination to check if the invention meets the patent criteria. If any objections arise, the applicant must respond within the prescribed time.
Yes, a patent holder can take legal action against individuals or companies that infringe upon their patent rights.