Definition of the word patent

The term "patent" comes from the Latin word "patere," meaning "to lay open" or "unfold." In medieval times, land grants were often issued as open documents, or "patents," to facilitate their easy understanding and transparency. In the context of intellectual property, a patent is a legal document granting its holder the exclusive right to make, use, and sell a new invention for a specific period. This system was established in England in the late 17th century, during a time when the government increasingly relied on patent grants as a means of funding research and development. The modern patent system we know today was consolidated in the United States with the passage of the Patent Act of 1790. This legislation, which serves as a foundation for patent law in many countries, defined a patent as "any new and useful art, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful process" and set out the requirements for obtaining a patent, which include novelty, usefulness, and non-obviousness. The origin of the word "patent" thus embodies the concept of disclosure and transparency, as patents serve as a means of conveying innovative ideas and inventions to the public and allowing for the sharing of valuable knowledge and expertise.