Patents are incredibly important devices. They grant the holder exclusive rights for an invention. The invention could be a product or process that provides a new way of doing something or offers a new technical solution to an existing problem. A patent provides protection for the invention to the owner of the patent for a limited period, generally 20 years. Patents are one of the key tools in capturing intellectual property. The World Intellectual Property Office has a cool definition of intellectual property. Intellectual property refers to “creations of the mind, such as inventions; literary and artistic works; designs; and symbols, names, and images used in commerce”. More prosaically for our terms, intellectual property is created when you have an idea and can sell something using that idea. Take an idea for a new product or service. The technology you generate might…

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