What is Patent Protection

Patent protection is a form of intellectual property right granted by a government that gives the patent owner exclusive rights over their invention for a limited period, typically 20 years from the filing date. It legally prevents others from making, using, importing, or selling the patented invention without permission in the country where the patent was issued.

A patent application includes four key parts :

Written description: Details the invention and its function.
Drawings: Illustrates the invention and its components.
Claims: Specifies the unique technical features that are protected.
Abstract: Summarizes the technical content.

To be eligible for patent protection, an invention must meet these criteria :

Novelty: It must be new and not disclosed to the public prior to filing.
Inventiveness: It must involve an inventive step that isn’t obvious based on existing knowledge.
Industrial applicability: It must be capable of being used or produced in some form of industry.
Technical contribution: It must contribute something new or improved in terms of technology.

What cannot be patented include :

Scientific or mathematical discoveries.
Artistic creations like literature or music.
Methods for performing mental acts.
Methods for medical treatment.

Patent protection is widely applied to various fields, including electronics, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and engineering, safeguarding both minor innovations and complex industrial systems.