What is a patent? A patent is an exclusive right granted for an invention. In other words, a patent is an exclusive right to a product or a process that generally provides a new way of doing something, or offers a new technical solution to a problem.
There are three types of patents – Utility, Design, and Plant. Utility patents may be granted to anyone who invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, article of manufacture, or compositions of matters, or any new useful improvement thereof.
Patents are granted for new, useful inventions, and they will give you the right to prevent others from making, using, or selling your invention. Examples: Utility patents: for tangible inventions, such as products, machines, devices, and composite materials, as well as new and useful processes.
20 years
For utility patents, which are the most common patent type, patent protection lasts for 20 years after the filing date of the patent application.