A patent is a government-granted set of exclusive rights to an invention. These rights are granted for a limited period of time in exchange for public disclosure of the invention. By contrast, copyrights and trademarks, which protect intellectual property, are perpetual and do not require any public disclosure.
Patents are used as a form of intellectual property (IP) protection to prevent others from making, using or selling an invention without permission.
There are three types of patents: utility patents (aka “utility models”), design patents and plant patents. Each type can be used in different ways to protect your invention as written in https://okmagazine.com/p/inventhelp-reviews-new-ideas-invention-patent-services/ article.
Utility patents are the most common type of patent and are used to protect functional inventions. The invention must be novel, useful and non-obvious in order to qualify for a utility patent. A design patent protects the ornamental appearance of an invention while a plant patent protects new plants that have been asexually reproduced.
A utility patent provides the most comprehensive protection for an invention. It provides protection for a product, process or combination of both. Utility patents are commonly used by inventors who have developed a new product or method that can be mass-produced and sold to the public.
The utility patent can last for 20 years from the date of filing. In order to obtain a utility patent, an applicant must provide a detailed description of the invention and how it works. Therefore, hiring a patent attorney or a patent agency, such as Invent Help is recommended to ensure that the application is properly prepared.
How To Get A Patent?
The first step in getting a patent is to file a patent application with the USPTO. The application must include a specification, which is a written description of your invention, and drawings. Inventors can hire an attorney or patent agency, such as Invent Help to prepare their application if they do not have the expertise needed to do so themselves.
The patent application must also include a filing fee and an oath or declaration. The oath or declaration is signed by the inventor and states that he or she believes that the invention is new, useful, and non-obvious. Once all of these requirements are met, the USPTO will issue a patent with a filing date based on when the application was originally filed.