Patents
What a Patent Actually Protects (and What It Doesn’t)
A US patent only lets you stop others from making, using, or selling your invention, it does not give you permission to sell it, and claims…
Patents
A patent is a government grant that gives an inventor the right to stop others from making, using, or selling an invention for a limited time. The United States Patent and Trademark Office examines applications and issues patents, and federal courts handle disputes. Congress sets the rules.
Readers usually want to know what can be patented, how to apply, and how the process works. They ask how claims define an invention, how searches for earlier inventions are done, how long and how costly the process is, and what a patent does and does not protect.
13articles
October 5last updated
An independent team explaining how government works
GovFacts is a nonpartisan site that makes government concepts, policies and programs easier to understand and use.
Referenced by Brookings, CNN, Forbes, Fox News, Pew Research, Snopes, The Hill and USA Today.
The Webby-recognized AI behind our articles »
Referenced by Brookings, CNN, Forbes, Fox News, Pew Research, Snopes, The Hill and USA Today.
The Webby-recognized AI behind our articles »
Latest in Patents
United States Patent and Trademark Office
The Role of America’s Patent Examiners
Every year, more than half a million inventors and entrepreneurs from around the world submit their big ideas to a federal office building in Alexandria, Virginia.…
United States Patent and Trademark Office
A Guide to Understanding Patent Claims
While patent documents are complex legal instruments, their entire purpose centers on one critical section: the claims. Think of a patent like a deed for intellectual…
United States Patent and Trademark Office
A Guide to the Provisional Patent Application
One of the most useful tools for safeguarding an invention is the Provisional Patent Application, or PPA. A PPA isn't a type of patent itself; it…
All Articles on Patents
How Long Does It Take to Get a Patent?
For any inventor, entrepreneur, or business, the question of how long it takes to secure a patent is fundamental. It informs business strategy, funding…
The Cost of Getting a Patent: What Every Inventor Needs to Know
While that idea in your head could be worth millions, it turns out turning it into a legally protected asset comes with a price…
Understanding Patents: A Guide to Protecting Your Invention
Many people misunderstand what a patent actually does. A patent doesn't give you the right to make, use, or sell your own invention. A…
How to Search for Patents
That idea brewing in your mind could be worth millions—or it could already belong to someone else. Before you spend a dime on development,…
How the US Patent and Trade Office (USPTO) Protects Your Ideas
Every smartphone, every brand logo, every innovative gadget you use started with someone protecting their idea. The United States Patent and Trademark Office is…
A Step-by-Step Guide to Applying for a U.S. Patent
A United States patent doesn't give you the right to make or sell your invention. Instead, it grants something potentially more valuable: the power…
Navigating “Prior Art” Before Filing a Patent
Getting a patent can be thrilling. The promise of innovation, commercial success, and legal protection drives inventors to pursue their ideas. At its core,…
Trade Secret vs. Patent: Protecting Your Innovations
Trade secrets guard confidential information; patents restrict use of inventions. Their disclosure rules, costs and limits shape the choice of protection.
Intellectual Property: Copyright, Trademark, and Patent Explained
Creators, inventors, and businesses need to understand intellectual property to protect their most valuable assets. Whether you've written a novel, designed a logo, or…