What is a patent?

A patent is a temporary monopoly granted by the State to an inventor in return for his disclosure of the invention to the public through the Patent Office. The patentee has the sole right to use the invention, or to authorise others to use it, for as long as he keeps the patent in force. The maximum term of a patent is 20 years.

The grant of a patent does not imply that the patentee will derive any financial reward. That depends on whether the patentee can make profitable use of the invention, either himself or by licensing others in exchange for royalties.