A patent is an exclusive right to the use of an invention or design or new process and can last for a maximum of 20 years.

UK Patent Office
Detailed information on what is involved in applying for a patent and on all intellectual property issues including trade marks, patents, copyright and registered design.

UK Intellectual Property
Valuable information how to protect your intellectual capital and exploit it within your firm.

Inventor's Logbook
The DTI's Innovation Unit and the Patent Office have produced an inventor's logbook. As well as allowing inventors to formally record research, notes, meetings and design ideas, the logbook also contains information on how to protect new ideas and inventions.

Some of the most important databases are:

European Patent Office
Top site for accessing four pages of information on any Patent worldwide.

US and Japan.
Search Engine lets you pick out patents you need.
Japanese Patents in English.

US Patents
US Patents, searchable, indexed and in-depth text.
Patents worldwide but you can only view US free on this easy to use system, which includes four pages plus drawings. You may have to pay a fee to access reports outside US - for which you can use the European Patents site instead.

Institute of Patentees and Inventors

The Chartered Institute of Patent Agents
Patent agents are specially trained and experienced in the art of drafting patents and knowledgeable about intellectual property law.

Inventor’s handbook
A guide to the process of invention and innovation. Pitfalls to avoid and sources of advice to pursue, developing an idea into a real product, protecting your intellectual property and advice on the commercial world - from licence deals to making and selling a product yourself.