What is a patent and what are the types of patents in China?

Patent literally refers to exclusive rights and interests. The word "patent" comes from Latin "Litterae patentes", which means open letters or open documents. It is a certificate used by medieval monarchs to issue certain privileges, and later refers to the exclusive right certificate signed by the British king himself.

There are three kinds of patent applications in China: invention, utility model and design.

Invention refers to new products, new methods, new technologies and new processes, and can also be an improvement of existing product methods.

The utility model, commonly known as gizmo, refers to the improvement of tangible products. It should be noted that only when designing the shape, structure or combination of products can you apply for a patent for utility model. If it is about technology, formula and other technical solutions, it still belongs to the category of invention.

As the name implies, appearance design refers to a new design that designs the shapes and patterns of products or their combinations, or a new design that combines colors with shapes and patterns.

At present, the authorization rate of invention patents in China is low and the patent examination period is long. General invention patents are granted for 1 ~ 3 years.

Extended data:

The difference between patent, design, trademark and copyright

Patents are used to protect new and useful inventions, including software processes, manufacturing and production processes, equipment and products.

Industrial design is called design patent in the United States, which is used to protect the visual elements applied to goods in design.

Trademarks are used for commercial purposes to protect brands, images or slogans related to goods and/or services.

Copyright is used to protect creative works, such as original literary, artistic, dramatic or musical works.

Baidu encyclopedia-patent