In general, anyone who invents a new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter is eligible to apply for a patent. Also new design or a new plant variety. This means that if you conceive an original idea or develop a novel solution to a problem, you have the potential to secure patent protection.

If you are an individual inventor, you can absolutely apply for a patent on your own.

Companies, partnerships, associations, government bodies, academic institutions and other legal entities can also hold patents, often filing through designated representatives.

Multiple inventors, individuals or entities, can jointly file for a patent if they have contributed to the invention collaboratively.

Let’s consider a few scenarios on who can file a patent:

• The solo inventor: You design a revolutionary gadget in your garage. You qualify!
• The startup team: Three friends collaborate on a unique software solution. All three can be named as inventors.
• The employee inventor: You develop a new process at work. It depends on your employment contract, but often the company owns the patent, as an assignee, while you being the inventor.

It is essential to note that certain jurisdictions may have specific requirements or restrictions regarding who can apply for filing a patent application.

In general, most countries, including the US, India, Japan, and Germany, allow both residents and non-residents to file patent applications for inventions regardless of whether the origin of the invention is local or foreign. Additionally, the option to file a patent application as an assignee (whether resident or non-resident) is typically available in these countries.

However, specific rules and regulations may vary slightly between jurisdictions. For example, in countries including the US and India, the resident filing a patent application abroad for an invention made domestically should get prior permission called a Foreign Filing license (FFL) from the local patent office.

To sum it up, anyone who invents and wants to protect his invention can apply for a patent. Since each country has its own set of patent laws, requirements, and restrictions, it is important to understand the regulations of the jurisdictions where the invention occurred and where you intend to file a patent application.