A patent is an exclusive right granted for an invention, which is a product or a process that provides a new way of doing something, or offers a new technical solution to a problem.

A patent will grant the owner thereof the right to derive the material benefit of the owner’s intellectual effort and work, and compensation for the expenses which research and experimentation leading to the invention have entailed. The owner of a patent may prevent others from commercially exploiting the owner’s invention by making, using, disposing, offering to dispose of or importing the invention.

In order to obtain a valid patent the invention must be new and inventive. It is important that a patent application for the invention is filed before the invention is disclosed as any non-confidential disclosure of the invention prior to the filing of a patent application will destroy the novelty of the invention.