Patents

Title: ‘Patents’

Author/Organization: World Intellectual Property Organization

Date Accessed: June 6, 2026

URL: https://www.wipo.int/en/web/patents

Source Type:

• Government

Patents. (n.d.). WIPO. Retrieved June 6, 2026, from https://www.wipo.int/en/web/patents

Summary:

This source provides a rudimentary understanding of the function of a patent. The source includes what can be patented, how patents work, and why they are important. Additionally, there is an overview of patent information.

Key Terms:

• Patents

  • A right granted to an inventor that legally protects their invention.

• Inventions

  • A novel product or mode of execution.

• Patent Information

  • The information within a patent that details the function or purpose of the invention, and what makes it unique.

Quotes: 

“Patents benefit inventors by providing them with legal protection of their inventions.” This quote explains why patents benefit inventors.

“However, patents also benefit the society by providing public access to technical information about these inventions, and thus accelerating innovation.” This quote notes that patents benefit more people than just the inventor, which may refute a common misconception.

Main Points: 

Patents can be granted to the majority of tangible, innovative ideas.                                 

Evidence: “Patents may be granted for inventions in any field of technology, from an everyday kitchen utensil to a nanotechnology chip. An invention can be a product – such as a chemical compound, or a process, for example – a process for producing a specific chemical compound.”

Patents provide legal protection on inventions.

Evidence: “patent protection means that the invention cannot be commercially made, used, distributed, imported or sold by others without the patent owner's consent. If such acts are carried out by third parties without such consent, the patent owner can go to court to seek remedies for patent infringement.”

Research Relevance:

This source gives a standard definition and perspective on patents. This is relevant because it represents the opinion of the general public. Does this perspective apply as well to today’s youth?

Potential Criticisms: 

Some believe that inventions and ideas should be available to everyone, and that ‘intellectual property’ is not morally viable.

Questions Raised:

If this source does not align with the opinions some, what source would be a better representation?

Survey Ideas:

Are you aware of the function/purpose of a patent?

Have you ever filed an application for a patent?

Do you believe that patents are valuable in today’s society?

Article Ideas:

Are IP rights beneficial in today’s international society?

International Perspective:

How do patents function differently in various countries?

Reliability Assessment

9/10