Patents
What is a Patent?
A patent is a right which protects new inventions covering how they're made, what they're made of, what they do and how they do it. It also prevents others from using or making the invention without prior permission.
Patents originated in Great Britain in the 15th century as specific grants of privilege for manufacturers and traders. These grants came in the form of a letter marked with the King's Great Seal and granted the owner monopoly rights over the product or process. The earliest known patent was granted in 1449 and gave a 20 year monopoly on a method, not previously know of in England, of creating stained glass which was required for the windows of Eton College.
Since then patents have taken an entirely different shape. They no longer grant monopoly rights on a method of production, but instead allow the inventor of a product, process or material to benefit from their investment into its invention.
A patent can only be applied for to protect an invention which is new, tangible, capable of being used or made in an industry and has an inventive step that is not obvious to someone with knowledge in the field of the invention.
The registration of a patent in the Bailiwick of Guernsey will be permitted providing the owner of the invention has already registered their right in a country that is recognised and accepted by the Intellectual Property Office and that the type of invention meets the requirements of registration according to the Bailiwick of Guernsey legislation. For more information about registering a patent in Guernsey please visit the Guidance Notes and Services sections of this website respectively.
For more information about patents please follow one of the links below.
Relevant links & information
Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys
UK Intellectual Property Office - Patent Information
