Inventor

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

An inventor is a person who creates or discovers new methods, means, or devices, though the term is formally reserved for those who have been granted a patent. For this sense, see inventor (patent).

Patents may be granted on technical devices and methods, such as those in the mechanical, electrical, or chemical arts. In some jurisdictions, software devices or methods are considered part of the mechanical arts and may be patented. Many things which are not patentable, or are not generally patented, may nevertheless be considered the product of the work of an inventor. Examples include new methods or products of artistic expression or mathematics. As in the case of formal inventorship, the key element is surprise to those knowledgeable in a domain.

1 Summary of inventor in the formal sense
2 Etymology
3 See also
4 External links
5 Notes

[edit] Summary of inventor in the formal sense

Inventorship is a key determination in establishing patent rights. The system of patents was established by to encourage inventors by granting limited-term, limited monopoly on inventions determined to be sufficiently novel, non-obvious, and useful. In the U.S. the intellectual property clause of the Constitution permits (but does not mandate) laws to be passed establishing patent and other intellectual property rights. Inventors would probable not disclose their inventions or discoveries if not for patents.