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EEN 498: Senior Project I

This course guide accompanies the in-person library instruction for EEN 498 and serves as a reference point for topics and resources described in the class.

What is a Patent?

A property right granted by the government of the United States of America to an inventor "to exclude others from making, using, offering for sale, or selling the invention throughout the United States or importing the invention into the United States" for a limited time in exchange for public disclosure of the invention when the patent is granted.

- From the USPTO Glossary: Glossary | USPTO

Why Search for Patents?

Patent searching can serve multiple purposes from intellectual property protection to technical field awareness and competitive research.

There are three kinds of patents recognized by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO): 

  • Utility Patent
    • Why is it granted?: for inventing a new or improved and useful process, machine, article of manufacture, or composition of matter.
    • How long is it valid? 20 years.
  • Design Patent
    • Why is it granted?: for inventing a new, original, and ornamental design for an article of manufacture.
    • How long is it valid? 25 years.
  • Plant Patent
    • Why is it granted?: for inventing or discovering and asexually reproducing any distinct and new variety of plant.
    • How long is it valid? 20 years.

- From: Patent essentials | USPTO