Different Categories Of Patents

March 11, 2010 by Elvie Tan
Filed under Business

Patents allow an inventor safety against infringement of his rights over the product as well as the process of manufacture of the product by checking its unlawful use for making profits, with the help of a legal framework. It allows the inventor to carry out legal action against any person who is found infringing his rights in that respect.

Patents are classified into three main groups. These categories are design patents, utility patents and plant patents.

Design patents are given in order to protect the way an invention looks and its form. Therefore, it provides protection to configuration, shape as well as decorative additions. This patent is often used by companies that are engaged in enhancing the current products instead of coming up with new products altogether.

A utility patent on the other hand, protects any new and useful process, product, composition or a major improvement in a product. This patent safeguards the inventor’s interest in the nature and functioning of an invention. It is the most common kind of patent and can be applied in a standalone way or together with a design patent.

The third category of patent is known as the plant patent that is reserved for a special variety of plant which is not only innovative but also is created through an asexual production method. It protects an invention from being infringed by others by way of production or sale of a part of the plant or whole of it.

However, there is yet another category of patents, which is called a provisional patent that protects the inventor’s right over his invention temporarily, especially if he or she does not have the resources to file a comprehensive application yet. In cases like these, the inventor is permitted to register for a fresh patent later, though the later patent should not be substantially different from the provisional patent. This patent is used in cases when you are approaching the completion of the development of your product.

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