The patent protects a technical invention, in other words a product or process that brings a new technical solution to a given technical problem.
What form of protection does a patent provide?
An invention that is protected by a patent may not be commercially made, used, distributed or sold without the patent holder’s consent.
What are the patent holder’s rights?
The patent holder has the right to decide who may – or may not – use the patented invention for the period in which the invention is protected. The holder may grant other individuals or organisations a license to use the invention under certain agreed terms and conditions. He may also sell his rights to the invention to a third party, who then becomes the patent holder. When the patent expires, the protection ends and the invention enters the public domain, i.e. the holder loses their exclusive rights to the invention, and anyone can commercially exploit the invention without infringing the patent.