Patents

A patent for an invention, once granted, is issued by governments and provides the right for a limited period (usually 20 years) to stop others from making, using or selling the invention without the permission of the inventor/owner. To be patentable an invention must be novel, involve an inventive step, be capable of industrial application and not fall under an excluded category. Patents are territorial rights and protection must be applied for.

Patent Office: www.ipo.gov.uk

Novelty

The details of the invention must be new (i.e. not known through previous public disclosure by any means, anywhere in the world). The public disclosure of an invention or the underlying information can potentially destroy the ability to obtain patent protection. This publicly available information is counted as "Prior Art".

Involve an inventive step

The invention must not be obvious to a person "skilled in the art", there needs to be an inventive step over and above the "Prior Art".

Industrial application

The invention must be able to be made, sold or used in some way in an industrial setting.

Excluded category

There is a list of categories which cannot be patented in UK or Europe, this includes aesthetic creations, mental acts, the presentation of information and inventions which when practiced would be contrary to public policy or morality.