U.S. Title Code 35 outlines the types of patents available; below are some examples:
- Design patent
- Plant
- Utility patent
- Provisional
- Non-provisional
That list is just a few of the general categories of patents. We’ll discuss the three most commonly issued patents below.
According to the USPTO, 90 percent of the patents they issue are utility patents. They are issued for “the invention of a new and useful process, a machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or a new and useful improvement thereof,” according to the agency’s website. Utility patents are valid for 20 years.
Another common one is the design patent which gives protections to original ornamental designs “embodied in or applied to an article of manufacture; it permits its owner to exclude others from making, using, or selling the design.” (USPTO). These patents are valid for 14 to 15 years depending on the approval date.
Plant patents are the least common and cover new and unique asexually produced plants including hybrid plants, mutants, and newly discovered seedlings.
Why Should I Hire a Patent Attorney in New Jersey?
As you can see by the steps listed above, applying for a patent is a multistep process that requires tenacity and persistence. You have critical decisions to make and criteria to meet if you want any hope of success. A patent attorney in New Jersey will make sure you meet the necessary criteria, and your application is completed correctly with all the necessary documentation.
