Patent Basics

The United States Constitution provides that Congress has the power to protect the discoveries of inventors. Accordingly, George Washington enacted the first patent statute on April 10, 1790, which provided patent protection for "any useful art, manufacture, engine, machine, device, or any improvement thereon not before known or used." Although the patent statutes have been modified many times since then, the present patent system is entirely governed by federal law.

A patent is a right granted by federal law describing an invention which did not exist prior to conception by the inventor. A patent gives the inventor a limited monopoly right to exclude others from making, using, importing, selling, offering to sell, or importing the claimed invention. A patent may be granted for inventions which are new, useful, and non-obvious.

There are many types of patents, each with their advantages and usefulness.   A patent may be provisional, non-provisional, utility, design, plant, foreign, or domestic.  We help inventors determine what type of patent is appropriate for their invention and circumstance and are experienced in all types.