Patent

A patent is a set of exclusive rights granted by a government (specifically the United States Patent Office) to a person for a predetermined period of time in exchange for the regulated, public admission of certain particulars of an invention. The person submitting a patent application does not have to be the inventor or author.

Modern patents provide the right to bar others from making, using, selling or importing the patented invention. Typically, US patents are enforced through civil patent lawsuits. Patent licensing agreements are contracts in which the patent owner/licensor agrees not to sue the licensee for patent infringement. US government patents generally claim the right to suspend or cancel a patent ad libitum.

For further patent definition and patent information, consult an experienced patent attorney. Patent info can also be found on the internet or at your local university law library.