A patent is a set of exclusive rights granted to an inventor of a new invention for the right to exclusive ownership of her invention. Within the United States, patents are handled by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
- There are three types of patents recognized by the USPTO: utility patents, design patents, and plant patents.
- According to the USPTO, to receive a utility patent, you must invent or discover "a new and useful process, machine, article of manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof". An example of a utility patent would be LED technology.
- A design patent is awarded for the invention of a "new, original, and ornamental design for an article of manufacture," according to the USPTO. An example of a design patent would be a new style for eyeglass frames.
- A plant patent is granted to a person who "invents or discovers and asexually reproduces any distinct and new variety of plant," according to the USPTO.
- Utility patents have a standard length of 20 years, whereas plant and design patents last for 14 years.
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