Patent FAQs

Q: What are the benefits of patent protection?

A: Patents are the strongest type of intellectual property protection. The owner of a U.S patent may exclude others from making, using, selling the patent subject matter which can decrease the number of competition in the market.

Q: What can be patented?

A: Any person who “invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, may obtain a patent,” subject to the conditions and requirements of the law.

Q: Does a U.S patent provide protection worldwide?

A: No. The rights granted by a U.S patent extended only throughout the territory of the U.S and have no effect in a foreign country.

Q: If one or more persons work together to make an invention who will the patent be granted?

A: If each had a share in the ideas forming the invention as defined in the claims – even if only as to one claim, they are joint inventors and a patent will be issued to them jointly on the basis of a proper patent application. If, on the other hand, one of these persons has provided all of the ideas of the invention, and the other has only followed instructions in making it, the person who contributed the ideas is the sole inventor and the patent application and patent shall be in his/her name alone.

Q: What is the difference between a utility patent and a design patent?

A: Utility patents may be granted to anyone who invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, article of manufacture, compositions of matter, or any new useful improvement thereof. A design patent may be granted to anyone who invents a new, original, and ornamental design for an article of manufacture.

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