Patent

 A patent is a form of intellectual property right that grants exclusive rights to an inventor or assignee for a new and useful invention. It provides legal protection for inventions, allowing the inventor to prevent others from making, using, selling, or importing the invention without permission. Patents incentivize innovation by providing a time-limited monopoly in exchange for publicly disclosing the details of the invention.

Here are some key aspects of patents:

Eligibility: To be eligible for a patent, an invention must meet specific criteria. It should be novel, meaning it is new and hasn't been disclosed or publicly known before. The invention must also be non-obvious, meaning it involves an inventive step that is not obvious to someone skilled in the relevant field. Additionally, the invention should be useful, meaning it has a practical application.

Patentable Subject Matter: Patents can be granted for various types of inventions, including processes, machines, manufactured products, and compositions of matter. In some jurisdictions, software, business methods, and genetic material may also be eligible for patent protection, subject to specific requirements.

Patent Application: To obtain a patent, the inventor or their representative must file a patent application with the relevant patent office. The application typically includes a detailed description of the invention, along with drawings, claims that define the scope of protection sought, and other supporting documentation. The patent office examines the application to determine if the invention meets the patentability criteria.