What is a Patent?

The right conferred by the patent grant is, in the language of the statute and of the grant itself, “the right to exclude others from making, using, offering for sale, or selling” the invention in the United States or “importing” the invention into the United States. What is granted is not the right to make, use, offer for sale, sell or import, but the right to exclude others from making, using, offering for sale, selling or importing the invention. Once a patent is issued, the patentee must enforce the patent without aid of the USPTO.

There are three types of patents:

1. Utility patents may be granted to anyone who invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, article of manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof;
2. Design patents may be granted to anyone who invents a new, original, and ornamental design for an article of manufacture; and
3. Plant patents may be granted to anyone who invents or discovers and asexually reproduces any distinct and new variety of plant.

Patent attorneys and patent agents are required by federal regulations to maintain information they obtain from clients confidential. See 37 C.F.R. 11.106.

United States Patent and Trademark Office – An Agency of the Department of Commerce
For more information visit: https://www.uspto.gov/patents-getting-started/general-information-concerning-patents#heading-2

Darryl W. Shorter is a licensed patent attorney and he is registered with the USPTO. He has the experience and engineering background necessary to determine the patentability of you invention. He has years of experience in drafting and prosecuting patent applications relating to a wide range of products, devices, and technologies, including but not limited to mechanical, electrical, and computer sciences. His clients include entrepreneurs, large brand businesses, and small business.