26984 words

patent

12 definitions • 19 examples
1
the official legal right to make or sell an invention for a particular number of years:

Examples:

In 1880 Alexander Graham Bell was granted a patent on an apparatus for signalling and communicating called a Photophone.
The company took out/filed a patent on a genetically engineered tomato.
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3
to get the official legal right to make or sell an invention:

Examples:

If you don't patent your invention, other people may make all the profit out of it.
4
very obvious:

Examples:

a patent lie
a patent disregard of the law
"No," he replied, with patent distaste.
5
A patent invention is protected by law so that only particular people or companies have the right to make or sell it:

Examples:

a patent screwdriver
6
the legal right to be the only one who can make, use, or sell an invention for a particular number of years
7

Examples:

He felt the notion of beginner's luck was patent nonsense.
8
the legal right to be the only person or company to make or sell a product for a particular number of years, or a document that gives you this right:

Examples:

apply for/file/take out a patent Filing a patent is a long and expensive process.
be awarded/granted a patent An American company was granted the patent last year.
a patent on sth He expects to be awarded a patent on his invention later this month.
a patent for sth The company has been granted a patent for a milk carton opener.
The drugs are protected by patent.
The lawsuit will continue even after the patent expires.
a patent attorney/lawyer
a patent application
9
if a product comes off patent or goes off patent, the period of time for which someone has the patent for it comes to an end:

Examples:

A lot of the company's top-selling drugs were going off patent.
10
used to show that the person who has made or is selling a product has asked for a patent on it:

Examples:

The company has a patent pending on the machine.
11
to get the legal right to be the only person or company to make or sell a product for a particular number of years:

Examples:

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