What is a patent?
A patent is an intellectual property right. It's granted by the U.S. government to inventors. It gives the inventor the right to exclude others from making, using, offering for sale, selling, or importing in to the U.S. their invention. That's for a limited time — and in exchange, the inventor must publicly disclose the invention when the patent is granted.
Learn more through the United States Patent and Trademark Office's introduction to patents.
How to get started
Start your patent journey with helpful tips, free online courses and other resources:
Useful websites
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Learn about the patent application process. Search for patents and published patent applications. File your own patent application.
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Get free patent legal assistance through the Patent Pro Bono Program. This nationwide network matches volunteer patent attorneys and agents with financially under-resourced inventors and small businesses.
U.S. patent search tools
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Patent Public Search was created in 2022 to replace the Pub EAST and Pub WEST systems. This single, more robust online platform provides the public access to search tools used by patent examiners.
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Get information about a patent application's status.
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Search for Patent Assignment information beginning August 1980.
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The Official Gazette for Patents allows you to see patents issued each week and is available online for the past year. You can browse by classification or type of patent.
International patent search tools and resources
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The official website of the European Patent Office. Learn about applying and searching for patents, legal issues, grants, and rules about international patent applications.
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Search the European Patent Office database.
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WIPO is a United Nations agency that provides intellectual property services worldwide. They work with governments and treaties across the world to handle the legal and administrative aspects of intellectual property.
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Search for international patent documents.
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Learn about intellectual property in Japan.
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Search Patent Abstracts of Japan.
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Search Korea's patent database.