WHAT IS A PATENT?

We frequently see the words "patented" or "patent protected" on consumer goods. What does this mean?

A patent is issued to protect new processes, machines, articles of manufacture and compositions of substances. For example, the specific combination and amounts of ingredients in an over-the-counter medicine can be patented. The process used to make a specific type of plastic can be patented. If anyone else tries to make the same product for sale using the same combination and amounts of ingredients, they would not be able do it legally. A patent simply protects the inventor from having someone else steal his/her invention in the market place.

Because an item has a patent, it does not mean that it is guaranteed to do what it claims. Patents do not judge usefulness, effectiveness, safety, or that a product is useful. Lots of useless, unworkable items have received patents.

No natural product can be patented - only the processes used for extracting a specific product, or a product produced from a combination of several substances. However, new genetically engineered plants such as tomatoes or tea roses can be patented.

So remember if someone is promoting a patented product, all it means is that the person who invented it is protected from someone else stealing it.