FAQs Patent Questions

Question:What is a patent?

Answer:
A patent is a property right granted by the Government of the United States of America to an inventor “to exclude others from making, using, offering for sale, or selling the invention throughout the United States or importing the invention into the United States” for a limited time in exchange for public disclosure of the invention when the patent is granted.

Question:Utility patents protects the way an article is used and works and a design patent protects the way an article looks.

Answer:
A “utility patent” protects the way an article is used and works (35 U.S.C. 101), while a "design patent" protects the way an article looks (35 U.S.C. 171). Both design and utility patents may be obtained on an article if invention resides both in its utility and ornamental appearance.

Question:What is intellectual property?

Answer:
The term intellectual property refers to creations of the mind - creative works or ideas embodied in a form that can be shared or can enable others to recreate, emulate, or manufacture them. There are four ways to protect intellectual property - patents, trademarks, copyrights or trade secrets.

Bookmark:           
Permalink:  http://S-0.ORG/tDotZ5v

Contact our Patent Professionals to ensure you complete the patent filing process correctly or for violation of your patent rights.