<P> The grant and enforcement of patents are governed by national laws , and also by international treaties , where those treaties have been given effect in national laws . Patents are granted by national or regional patent offices . A given patent is therefore only useful for protecting an invention in the country in which that patent is granted . In other words , patent law is territorial in nature . When a patent application is published , the invention disclosed in the application becomes prior art and enters the public domain ( if not protected by other patents ) in countries where a patent applicant does not seek protection , the application thus generally becoming prior art against anyone ( including the applicant ) who might seek patent protection for the invention in those countries . </P>
<P> The grant and enforcement of patents are governed by national laws , and also by international treaties , where those treaties have been given effect in national laws . Patents are granted by national or regional patent offices . A given patent is therefore only useful for protecting an invention in the country in which that patent is granted . In other words , patent law is territorial in nature . When a patent application is published , the invention disclosed in the application becomes prior art and enters the public domain ( if not protected by other patents ) in countries where a patent applicant does not seek protection , the application thus generally becoming prior art against anyone ( including the applicant ) who might seek patent protection for the invention in those countries . </P>
where do i go to get a patent
where do i go to get a patent
national or regional patent offices
national or regional patent offices