Definition of Patent

A patent is an official document granted by an official administration and confirming the inventor’s rights on his “invention”. In general, a patent protects a new product or a new method, simple or complex, which solves a technical problem.

Since all patent applications are published, they are a source of technical information that stimulates the development of new technologies and informs about the exploitation rights.

In exchange for the publication of his patent application, the patent owner gets the exclusive right to forbid the commercial exploitation by third parties of the product or method he invented, and to fight against counterfeiting.

The patent owner has also the right to transfer or to sell his patent to third parties or to set up licence agreements with third parties so as to generate income. Income can also be generated by the surplus value conferred by the patent to the product.