patent
Clearly visible, unmistakable
A patent is an official grant giving an inventor exclusive rights to make, use, and sell an invention for a limited period—typically twenty years.
To patent something is to obtain such protection: She patented the design before launching the product.
Patent also means obvious or unconcealed: a patent lie, patent nonsense.
As an adjective describing inventions, it means protected by patent: patent medicine.
Patent leather has a glossy, lacquered finish.
Violation of rights
- litigationLegal dispute process
- attorneyLicensed legal representative
- courtTrial venue or sports surface
- lawsuitCivil court proceeding
plaintiff · defendant · settlement · damages · license · jurisdiction · verdict · appeal
Bestow or award money
- licenseFormal grant of permission
- authorityPower to enforce obedience
- privilegeExclusive right or benefit
- entitlementAssumed right to benefits
permission · franchise · charter · prerogative · royalty · assignment · transfer · licensing
Creator of original devices
- prototypeFirst functional specimen
- deviceConstructed tool or machine
- apparatusEquipment for a task
- mechanismMeans by which something operates
gadget · contraption · blueprint · design · utility · novelty · disclosure · specification
Limited to one group
- monopolyOne seller, no substitutes
- proprietaryLegally owned, restricted use
- restrictedLimited in scope
- shieldHandheld defensive armor
safeguard · defend · preserve · enforce · uphold · guard · coverage · barrier
Sudden important advance
- pioneeringFirst to explore territory
- cutting-edgeAt innovation's forefront
- revolutionarySeeking fundamental systemic change
- state-of-the-artMost technologically advanced available
advancement · discovery · technology · improvement · originality · ingenuity · emerging · transformative
Without obstruction or fog
- evidentClearly perceived or understood
- apparentClearly seen or understood
- plainBasic and unremarkable
- manifestClearly apparent or displayed
transparent · unmistakable · conspicuous · glaring · blatant · overt · visible · noticeable
infringement
Violation of rights
- litigationLegal dispute process
- attorneyLicensed legal representative
- courtTrial venue or sports surface
lawsuit · plaintiff · defendant · settlement · damages · license · jurisdiction · verdict · appeal · statute
grant
Bestow or award money
- licenseFormal grant of permission
- authorityPower to enforce obedience
- privilegeExclusive right or benefit
entitlement · permission · franchise · charter · prerogative · royalty · assignment · transfer · licensing · cross-license
inventor
Creator of original devices
mechanism · gadget · contraption · blueprint · design · utility · novelty · disclosure · specification · claims
exclusive
Limited to one group
- monopolyOne seller, no substitutes
- proprietaryLegally owned, restricted use
- restrictedLimited in scope
shield · safeguard · defend · preserve · enforce · uphold · guard · coverage · barrier · rights
breakthrough
Sudden important advance
- pioneeringFirst to explore territory
- cutting-edgeAt innovation's forefront
- revolutionarySeeking fundamental systemic change
state-of-the-art · advancement · discovery · technology · improvement · originality · ingenuity · emerging · transformative · disruptive
clear
Without obstruction or fog
manifest · transparent · unmistakable · conspicuous · glaring · blatant · overt · visible · noticeable · pronounced
- legallawyer, judge, jury, trial, verdict
- historical recordsdiary, census record, annual reviews, letter, government records
- career milestonespromotion, hire, first job, retirement, raise
- intellectual propertycopyright, trademark, trademarks, copyrights, IP rights
- legal termstrial, legal, appeal, lawsuit, law
- US Lawattorney, lawyer, lawsuit, jury, federal court
patentpublic domain
Unprotected creative works
unpatented · open-source · free · unprotected · generic
patentoccluded
Blocked or closed off
blocked · obstructed · closed · constricted · impacted
- patent protectionExclusive rights to invention
- patent holderOwner of invention rights
- patent leatherLacquered hide, highly reflective
- patent pendingInvention protection sought, ungranted
- patent officeAgency granting invention rights
- patent medicineTrademarked unproven remedy
patent medicines, patently, patented, patents, patenting, patent troll, patentable, unpatented, patentability