• New and useful products: Covering a diverse array of items, from gadgets and machines to chemical compounds and new materials
• New and non-obvious processes: Unique ways of doing something, like innovative manufacturing methods or new business methods or processes

There are three main types of patents:

• Utility patents: These are the most common type of patents and cover new and useful processes, machines, articles of manufacture, compositions of matter, or any useful improvement thereof. Utility patents provide broad protection for the functional aspects of inventions and are valid for 20 years from the filing date of the patent application
• Design patents: Design patents protect the ornamental or aesthetic aspects of an invention, such as its shape, configuration, or surface ornamentation. They are granted for new, original, and ornamental designs and are valid for typically 10 to 15 years from the date of grant
• Plant patents: Plant patents are granted for new and distinct varieties of plants that are reproduced asexually, such as through grafting or cutting. They protect the unique characteristics of the plant variety, such as its growth habit, flower color, or disease resistance, and are valid for 20 years from the filing date of the patent application.