A patent is a grant of protection for an invention. It is a form of protection that provides a person or legal entity with exclusive rights for making, using, or selling a concept or invention and excludes others from doing the same.
In the United States, it's granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and has a term of 14 to 20 years. Owning a patent gives you the right to stop someone else from making, using, or selling your concept or invention without your permission.
Use the following resources to learn more about patents, find existing patents registered around the world, and to register your own patents.
Patent It Yourself by 
Patent Law Essentials: a Concise Guide by 
Patent Law for Computer Scientists by 
Patent Policy and Innovation by