A U.S. patent gives the inventor or patent owner the right to exclude others from making, using, selling, offering to sell, or importing the invention. A patent does not provide the inventor with an absolute right to manufacture or use an invention. For example, an invention that is an improvement of an invention patented by another does not give the improvement’s inventor the right to make, use, or sell the entire invention. In such cases it may be necessary to obtain a license from the owner of the basic or “dominant” patent encompassing the invention.
To find out more please access our IP Primer page.