Materials Science and Engineering

What is a Patent?

A patent is an exclusive right granted for an invention, which is a product or a process that provides, in general, a new way of doing something, or offers a new technical solution to a problem.

What Can be Patented?

To be patentable, your invention must be new, useful, and innovative:

• New—your invention is the first of its kind in the world.
• Useful—your invention works or has a useful function.
• Innovative—your invention is a new development or an improvement of an existing technology that would not have been obvious to someone working in your area of specialty.

Inventions eligible for patents include products, compositions, machines, processes, or improvements of these.

Learn More

• What is a patent in Canada? (Canadian Intellectual Property Office - CIPO)
• Patent basics (United States Patent and Trademark Office - USPTO)
• Patents (World Intellectual Property Office - WIPO)