Utility patent

The statutory subject matter of a utility patent is limited to a process, machine, article of manufacture, or composition of matter that is novel, nonobvious, and useful, or to new and useful improvements to these classes of patentable subject matter. In exchange for a sufficiently detailed disclosure of the invention by the inventor, the patent precludes others from making, using, selling, offering to sell or importing components of the patented invention.

A utility patent provides for 20 years of protection for the invention from the date the patent application is filing datefiled, during which time the patented invention may be licensed, publicly disclosed, and distributed without altering its legal protection.