Patent basics: what does a first-time inventor need to know?
Reviewed by
Dominic Davies, patent attorney (20+ years)
· Last reviewed
September 7, 2026
At the most basic level: a patent is a government-granted right to stop others copying a specific invention, obtained by filing an application that's examined for novelty, non-obviousness and usefulness. It typically takes 18 months to 3 years and $10,000-$20,000 to get a full utility patent granted.
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