US PATENT Meaning and
Definition
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A US patent refers to an exclusive grant of rights provided by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), which protects an invention or discovery from being made, used, or sold by others without authorization from the patent holder. It is a legal document that validates the ownership of an inventive concept, giving inventors the right to exclude others from commercially utilizing their invention.
A US patent follows a rigorous examination process by the USPTO to determine its novelty, usefulness, and non-obviousness. It encompasses various types, including utility patents, design patents, and plant patents, targeting diverse areas of innovation. Utility patents cover novel machines, processes, compositions of matter, and improvements, while design patents protect unique ornamental designs applied to an article. Plant patents safeguard new varieties of plants that are asexually reproduced.
Upon being granted a US patent, the patentee obtains exclusive rights to manufacture, use, sell, and import the patented invention within the United States for a fixed term, typically lasting 20 years from the date of filing the patent application. This protection aims to incentivize and reward inventors for their contributions to technological advancements and encourages further innovation. It also grants inventors the opportunity to license or assign their patent rights to others for commercial purposes, generating revenue or attracting investments.
Enforcing a US patent requires the patent owner to actively monitor and take legal action against any infringement, ensuring that unauthorized parties are held liable for using the patented invention without permission.
Etymology of US PATENT
The word patent is derived from the Latin term patentem which means open, exposed, accessible. It originated from the Latin verb patere meaning to be open. This Latin term was later adapted into Old French as patent and ultimately entered the English language as patent in the 14th century.
The use of us in US Patent refers to the United States, indicating that it is a patent issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The abbreviation US is derived from United States which comes from the Latin term Civitates Foederatae Americae.
