How long must I wait for my patent to be validified?

May 13, 2008
Intellectual Property News and Interesting Facts

Once you have your gadget or invention provisionally filed you have 12 months in which to apply for the full patent. This gives you an opportunity to start production of the gadget and to iron out any difficulties. You will also be able to start exploiting the inventions. In granting the patent, the State gives you the exclusive rights to that invention for a period of twenty years. This right enables you to exclude others from making, using, selling, offering to sell or importing the gadget or invention. It does not necessarily give you the right to make use of the invention in this way (for example if the invention were to be a new drug, the production thereof may be governed by other laws). The patent is, in effect, a limited property right that the State offers to inventors in exchange for their agreement to share the details of their inventions with the public.