If you have invented something unique and want to prevent other people from stealing your idea, you may be able to apply for a patent. A patent is a type of government protection that allows you to prevent others from making, selling or using your invention without your permission.
The United States Patent and Trademark Office answers some important questions you may have about patents.
What do patents protect?
Patents can protect machines, processes, compositions of matter and articles of manufacture or an improvement on any of the above. To be able to apply for a patent, your invention has to be nonobvious, useful, novel and not offensive to public morality. There are also patents available for new varieties of plants reproduced asexually and ornamental designs to articles of manufacture.
Who can apply for a patent?
You can only apply for a patent if you are the inventor of the innovation.
How do you apply for a patent?
You can apply for a patent by filling out an application, either online or on paper. There are two types of applications available, and you can choose either depending on when you want to start the examination process. A provisional application does not begin the examination process right away. It does establish a filing date, which could affect your legal protections later. A nonprovisional application starts the examination process right away.
Patent protection does not protect your invention forever. The duration depends on the type of patent you have, but it is generally 20 years or less.