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A patent is a form of intellectual property that grants its owner the exclusive right to prevent others from making, using, or selling an invention for a limited period of time. This period is typically 20 years from the date the patent application was filed. In exchange for this exclusive right, the inventor must publicly disclose their invention in detail. This disclosure allows others to learn from and build upon the invention once the patent expires.

To be patentable, an invention must generally meet three criteria: novelty, non-obviousness, and utility. Novelty means the invention must be new and not previously known or described in the public domain. Non-obviousness requires that the invention would not have been obvious to a person skilled in the relevant field at the time of invention. Utility means the invention must have a practical use. Patents are granted by national or regional patent offices, such as the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) or the European Patent Office (EPO). The process of obtaining a patent can be complex and often involves filing a detailed application and undergoing examination by patent examiners. Patent rights are territorial, meaning a patent granted in one country does not provide protection in another. Therefore, inventors seeking international protection must file patent applications in each country or region where they desire protection. Patents are valuable assets that can be licensed, sold, or used to deter competitors.