Different Categories Of Patents
A patent is a legal recognition given by a government to an inventor to prevent other individuals from making unlawful use of his invention and its underlying idea for a certain period of time as put down by the law. It allows the inventor to take recourse to legal proceedings against any person who is found to be using his patented invention without his consent.
Patents are classified into three main categories. These divisions are utility patents, design patents, and plant patents.
A design patent safeguards the way the product appears and is designed. Hence, it provides a protection for the object’s shape, configuration as well as its embellishments. This patent is commonly used by companies that are involved in enhancing the current products instead of inventing new products entirely.
A utility patent however, protects any useful and recently invented process, product, composition or a significant improvement in a product. This patent safeguards the inventor’s interest in the nature and functioning of a product. Utility patent is more common than other types of patents and it can either be sought separately or together with a design patent.
The third major kind of patent relates to the protection given for invention of an asexually produced distinct variety of a plant that is new and unknown in the field. It provides the inventor with a protection against unscrupulous persons, who might try to produce or market a part or whole of the plant.
However, there is yet another category of patents, which is called a provisional patent that protects the inventor’s claim over his invention provisionally, particularly if the inventor does not have the requisite time or resources to file a detailed application yet. In situations like these, the inventor is permitted to apply for a new patent at a later time, though the new patent must not be radically different from the provisional patent. This patent is used in cases when you are about to complete the development of your invention.
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