What are the different types of patents?

Patents are a type of intellectual property law that allow inventors to protect their inventions or ideas. In North Carolina, patents are granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). They provide the inventor with exclusive rights to their invention. There are several different types of patents that can be filed with the USPTO. Utility patents are the most common type of patent. These are awarded to inventors who have created a new process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter. Utility patents protect the functional aspect of the invention. Design patents are more limited in scope than utility patents. These patents protect the ornamental design of a physical item. Every item with a different, recognizable design has a design patent. Plant patents are awarded to inventors who have created a new type of plant, such as a new species of flower. This type of patent is unique in that it is the only type of patent that protects a living thing. The United States Patent and Trademark Office also awards reissue patents and statutory invention registration (SIR). Reissue patents are issued to correct an error or omission that was made in an earlier patent application. SIRs are not actual patents; they are simply a way to register an invention prior to a patent application being filed. In summary, the different types of patents that can be awarded in North Carolina are utility patents, design patents, plant patents, reissue patents, and statutory invention registrations. These patents protect and secure inventors’ ideas and creations.

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