What does a patent allow you to do?

A patent allows you to protect an idea or invention that you have created or developed. This protection provides you with exclusive rights to the invention for a specified period of time, usually 20 years from the filing date for utility patents. This means that you hold the right to prevent others from making, using, selling, or distributing your invention without your permission.

In contrast, simply distributing an idea without protection does not safeguard it, leaving it vulnerable to use by others. Licensing a product for mass production typically involves having a patent in place to provide legal protection and terms for the use of the invention. Selling an idea immediately doesn't consider the legal implications or protections that a patent would offer; ideas themselves are not typically sellable unless they are protected. Therefore, the ability to protect an idea or invention through a patent is a fundamental aspect of intellectual property rights, allowing inventors to control the use and commercialization of their innovations.