What are the different types of patents?

Patents are a type of intellectual property law that provide an inventor exclusive rights to make, use, or sell an invention. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) grants different types of patents. Utility patents are the most common type. This type of patent protects the practical and functional aspects of an invention, such as the design, shape, or process. Design patents are for the appearance of an invention, such as the design of a bottle or product packaging. Plant patents cover new, invented varieties of plants. Provisional patent applications are a type of temporary patent that provide protection for one year. This type of patent is useful for inventors who need to invest some time and money into their invention before filing a full patent application. International patents allow inventors to protect their invention in multiple countries simultaneously. Reissue patents are for correcting errors made on existing patents and also help to expand the scope of a patent’s protection. Finally, defensive publication is a type of patent that helps prevent others from filing a patent application for an invention which has already been invented by someone else. The invention is disclosed publicly to prevent others from filing a patent application.

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What are the different types of patents?

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