Types of Patents
Utility Patents
Utility patents protect the use, function or process of an invention. Utility patents protect how a machine, apparatus or process works or is used. A utility patent is the the most common type of patent and the one most people consider when referring to a patented invention.
The utility patent is generally considered the strongest type of patent protection and it has the longest term of protection, 20 years from the filing date. The utility patent generally provides the best protection against a possible infringer. Once a utility patent application is filed, the inventor may claim patent pending when referring to the subject of the application, the invention.
There are two ways to claim patent-pending status for a utility patent: a provisional patent and a non-provisional patent.
Utility Patent generally covers the way something works or is made.
The general requirements of a utility patent require an invention of patentable subject matter.
Patentable Subject Matter means that the invention must be:
- A process or method for producing a useful, concrete and tangible result (such as a computer engineering procedure, a marketing strategy or a process for conducting e-commerce on the Internet.)
- A machine (usually something with moving parts or circuitry, such as an engine, manufacturing system, or printer)
- An article of manufacture (such as a pencil, plastic container, transistor or tool)
- A composition of matter (such as a chemical composition, drug, soap or genetically altered life form), or
- An improvement of an invention that fits within one of the first four categories.
The remaining requirements of a Utility patent include that the invention be:
- Useful;
- Novel (different from all previous inventions in some important way); and
- Non-obvious (not obvious to a person who is familiar with the subject matter of the invention).
In addition, the invention must not have been abandoned or publicly disclosed more than a year prior to the date of the patent application. Because public disclosure has been broadly defined, we suggest contacting one of our patent attorneys as soon as possible to avoid abandoning your patent rights.
Design Patents
A design patent is a way to obtain protection for the ornamental features of an invention. While a utility patent provides protection for the way an item is used or works, a design patent provides protection for the way an item looks.
For design patents, the law requires that the design be of patentable subject matter. In the case of a design patent, this means the design must be embodied in or applied to an article or manufactured good. In addition to being of patentable subject matter, the invention must be new, original and ornamental.
Because the design patent only covers the ornamental portions of the article, it provides only limited protection and lasts for a shorter duration than a utility patent, approximately 14 years versus 20 years. In addition, a design patent application must be filed within six months of public disclosure to avoid loss of patent rights.
Plant Patent
Plant patents are a third, specialized type of patent that is available for some types of plants. To be eligible, the plant must be of patentable subject matter. For plant patents, this means the plant must be an asexually reproducing plant. Asexually reproducing plants are those that reproduce other than by seeds. Some examples are plants which are capable of being produced or were produced by cuttings, layerings, buddings or graftings.
In addition to being of patentable subject matter, the invention must be a distinct and new variety of plant. For plant patents the rights granted by law include the right to exclude others from asexually reproducing the plant, from using, offering or selling the plant so reproduced or any of its parts.