PRACTICE AREAS - REAL ESTATE LAW
Patent Law
A patent is a form of intellectual property granted by a government to an inventor for an invention which creates an exclusive legal right, for a period of time, to use that invention.
Patents must be applied for to a governmental agency, which in the U.S. is the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The agency typically reviews the patent application to ensure that the invention meets certain legal requirements. In the United States these requirements include that the invention is novel (new), non-obvious, and useful.
Generally, the term of a new patent is 20 years from the date on which the application for the patent was filed in the United States or, in special cases, from the date an earlier related application was filed, subject to the payment of maintenance fees. U.S. patent grants are effective only within the United States, U.S. territories, and U.S. possessions. Under certain circumstances, patent term extensions or adjustments may be available.
The procedure for granting patents, the requirements placed on the patentee, and the extent of the exclusive rights vary widely between countries according to national laws and international agreements. In many countries, certain subject areas are excluded from patents, such as business methods and mental acts. The exclusive right granted to a patentee in most countries is the right to prevent others from making, using, selling, or distributing the patented invention without permission.
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