What is the primary purpose of a patent?

The primary purpose of a patent is to protect inventions and innovations. A patent grants the inventor exclusive rights to use, sell, and distribute their invention for a specific period, typically 20 years from the filing date. This exclusive right incentivizes innovation by allowing inventors to potentially profit from their creations without the immediate threat of competition.

Patents encourage the sharing of new ideas and technologies while also providing a legal framework to prevent unauthorized use or reproduction, ultimately fostering progress across various industries. This protection applies to inventions that are novel, non-obvious, and useful, thus ensuring that innovative advancements can be legally recognized and financially supported.

In contrast, protecting company logos is covered by trademarks, original works like music fall under copyright law, and trade secrets are safeguarded through different legal means. Each type of intellectual property protection serves its unique purpose within the broader context of intellectual property rights.