{"id":5009,"date":"2016-04-04T10:47:53","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:47:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/smallbusiness\/intellectual-property\/patent-eligibility-requirements-faq.html"},"modified":"2024-05-22T03:03:15","modified_gmt":"2024-05-22T08:03:15","slug":"patent-eligibility-requirements-faq","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/intellectual-property\/patent-eligibility-requirements-faq.html","title":{"rendered":"Patent Eligibility Requirements FAQ"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n \n
\n

Patent Eligibility Requirements FAQ<\/h1>\n
\n
\n By Taylar-Simone McCants, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Amber Sheppard, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last reviewed\n
\n

Editorial Note: We earn a commission from affiliate partner links on FindLaw. Commissions do not affect the editorial integrity of our legal content.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n \n

\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

A small business needs to be familiar with the four forms of intellectual property<\/a>. The four forms of intellectual property are trademarks<\/a>, trade secrets<\/a>, copyrights<\/a>, and patents.<\/a> The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) handles trademarks and patent registration. The U.S. Copyright Office handles copyrights. Business and contract law<\/a> handle most breaches of trade secrets.<\/p>\r\n

Patents can give inventors exclusive rights to their discoveries. Before applying for a patent, research your invention’s patentability. Next, determine if the invention meets the patent eligibility requirements of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office<\/a>. This article covers the basics of patent eligibility requirements. It can help you figure out if a patent is worth your time, energy, and investment. It covers:<\/p>\r\n