Lesson 1.1
What Is a Patent?
A patent is a deal between you and the government: you disclose your invention publicly, and in return you get a limited monopoly. Understand the constitutional basis (Article I, Section 8), the social contract, and why this 230-year-old system still drives innovation today. You'll learn exactly what rights a patent gives you — and what it doesn't.
Constitutional basisSocial contract20-year termRights granted
Lesson 1.2
Types of Patents
Utility patents protect how something works. Design patents protect how it looks. Plant patents protect new plant varieties. Filing the wrong type wastes thousands of dollars and months of time. This lesson gives you the framework to choose correctly every time — including when a provisional application makes strategic sense.
Utility patentsDesign patentsPlant patentsProvisional applications
Lesson 1.3
Patentability Requirements
Three gatekeepers stand between you and a patent: novelty (35 U.S.C. §102), non-obviousness (§103), and utility (§101). Learn what each means, how the USPTO evaluates them, and the current controversies around subject matter eligibility that have changed what can and can't be patented.
Novelty (§102)Non-obviousness (§103)Utility (§101)Alice/Mayo framework
Lesson 1.4
Patents vs. Other IP
Not every invention needs a patent. Sometimes a trade secret is better. Sometimes a combination of protections is the answer. This lesson maps all four types of intellectual property — patents, trade secrets, trademarks, and copyrights — so you can build the right IP strategy for your specific situation.
Trade secretsTrademarksCopyrightsStrategy matrix
Lesson 1.5
The Patent Lifecycle
From your first idea to your patent's expiration 20 years later, this lesson maps every milestone, deadline, and decision point. The 12-month provisional window. The 18-month publication date. The maintenance fee deadlines at 3.5, 7.5, and 11.5 years. Miss any of these and you could lose your rights permanently.
Filing timelineExaminationIssuanceMaintenance deadlines