My understanding of a patent is that it is the exclusive rights to an invention. The definition from the website of the United States Patent and Trademark Office is “a grant of property rights by the U.S. Government…which excludes others from making, using, or selling the invention in the United States.”

The website is very informative and has answers to patent questions I would never have even thought to ask. For instance, how long does a patent last? I didn’t realize they even expired. Neither did I know that it was only effective in the United States. Many states have their own patent process. There is even an international one. If you are thinking you might want to obtain a patent, this website will offer you much needed information.