What type of intellectual property protects inventions?

A patent is the type of intellectual property that protects inventions. It gives an inventor or owner the legal right to exclude others from making, using, selling, or importing the invention for a limited period.

The word “patent” comes from the Latin patere, meaning “to lay open,” reflecting the system’s basic bargain: an inventor publicly discloses how the invention works in exchange for temporary exclusivity. Modern patent systems generally require an invention to be new, useful, and non-obvious, though exact standards vary by country.

Patents are often confused with other intellectual-property rights. Copyright protects original expression such as books, music, and software code; trademarks protect names, logos, and other source identifiers; trade secrets protect valuable confidential information without public disclosure.

Under the WTO’s TRIPS framework, patent protection must generally last at least 20 years from filing. A patent does not automatically grant permission to practise an invention; it primarily provides a right to prevent unauthorized exploitation.