A patent is an exclusive right granted for an invention, which is a product or a process that provides, in general, a new way of doing something, or offers a new technical solution to a problem. To get a patent, technical information about the invention must be disclosed to the public in a patent application.
Under the Patent law, patent rights are granted for inventions covering a new and inventive process, product or an article of manufacture that can satisfy the patent eligibility requirements of having novelty, inventive steps, and are capable of industrial application.
Patent law is an essential tool for protecting innovation and encouraging creativity. It gives inventors and creators the exclusive right to make, use, and sell their invention for a certain period. This exclusive right, also known as a patent, gives inventors the ability to control who can make and use their invention, and allows them to profit from it.
There are mainly three patent types – Utility Patents, Design Patents, and Plant Patents.
Each type of patent has its own specific eligibility criteria and protects a particular type of invention idea. In addition to this, it is possible for a particular field of invention idea to have more than one patent.
- Utility Patents is granted for an invention that is new, useful, and non-obvious. It can include any machine, process, manufactured article, composition of matter or any invention that is improvement over previous one.
- Design patent is a patent issued for designs or structures. It is not limited to and may include specific chairs, shoes, tables, machinery, fonts with novelty, unique computer icons, etc. For a design patent, a design must be aesthetic or ornamental and cannot be functional. Just like a normal utility patent, on issuing or granting a design patent, the inventor gets a sole right that stops others from making, using, selling, and importing the design.
- Plant patents may be granted for inventions or discoveries or asexual reproductions of any distinct and new variety of plant. asexual reproduction means the plant is reproduced by grafting or cutting the plant or by using other nonsexual means instead of being reproduced with seed.
One of the most important reasons for patent law is to promote innovation. By giving inventors the exclusive right to their invention, they have the incentive to invest time and resources into developing new ideas and products. This, in turn, leads to the creation of new technologies and industries, which can have a significant impact on society and the economy.
To conclude, patent Law is an essential tool for protecting innovation and encouraging creativity. It gives inventors the exclusive right to their invention, promotes innovation, encourages competition, and protects the investment of inventors. Without Patent Law, innovation and creativity would be discouraged, and society would be deprived of the many benefits they bring.
