{"id":3161,"date":"2019-10-04T11:06:42","date_gmt":"2019-10-04T11:06:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/insights\/patents-101-what-are-patents-and-how-do-you-acquire-them\/"},"modified":"2025-01-15T06:32:22","modified_gmt":"2025-01-15T06:32:22","slug":"patents-101-what-are-patents-and-how-do-you-acquire-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/insights\/patents-101-what-are-patents-and-how-do-you-acquire-them","title":{"rendered":"Patents 101: What are patents and how do you acquire them?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Have you struggled to understand whether you should apply for a patent and what it entails? This article explains the basics to help you expand your knowledge about patents.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

An ethical decision<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Would you refuse critically needed health care to someone unless paid a handsome profit? What about making a genetically-modified plant if its availability prevented the starvation of millions? How about any device facilitating mobility and communication? Usually, corporations deny inventions to those needing them because of the inability to pay the inflated costs, but individual researchers are not exempt. Before seeking intellectual property protection, you should assess the effects. And take for instance the actual case is of <\/span>a critical hepatitis C drug sofosbuvir<\/a> wherein an appeal was lodged against the decision to grant the patent .   <\/span><\/p>\n

Philosophers refer to “ethos” or core values. What is most important to you? No doubt your efforts should be recognized and rewarded if for no other reason than to encourage others to work for humankind’s benefit. Hence, to be a part of that community with a “high road ethos” (Horne, 2019<\/a>), think of your patent as a well-deserved recognition of your efforts and telling the world, “I have come here to share my idea to help you.” You should reflect on the implications of your discovery, and this requires introspection and value clarification. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

This article outlines the intellectual process of acquiring a patent as a way of achieving a just reward, and not a way of holding captive (as in a ransom) critical discoveries for your private benefit, i.e., acquiring a just reward in a socially conscious manner. We\u2019ll learn the basics of intellectual property protection, what a patent means, the eligibility for applying for a patent, and follow-up. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Likelihood of success<\/strong><\/p>\n