What is a patent?

A national or regional authority grants a patent as a legal right that gives an inventor exclusive rights to make, use, sell, or license their invention for a limited period, typically 20 years from the filing date.

To qualify for a patent, an invention must generally meet three key criteria:

1. Novelty: It must be new and not publicly disclosed before filing.
2. Inventiveness: It must involve an inventive step that is not obvious.
3. Industrial applicability: It must be capable of practical use in an industry.
   

Patent offices grant patents, and once issued, they allow the patent owner to take legal action against anyone who uses the invention without permission. 

Patents are part of a broader category known as intellectual property (IP), which also includes trademarks, copyrights, and industrial designs.