## Types of Patents
Utility patents: Protect inventions that are new, useful, and non-obvious, such as new machines, processes, or compositions of matter.
Design patents: Protect the ornamental design of an article, such as its shape, configuration, or surface ornamentation.
Plant patents: Protect new and distinct varieties of plants, both sexually and asexually produced.
## Types of Patent Applications
Provisional application: A temporary application that allows for early filing of an invention concept, providing a 12-month window to gather more information and file a non-provisional application.
Non-provisional application: A complete application that discloses the invention in detail, including drawings, claims, and a description.
Continuation application: A follow-up application that claims priority to a previously filed application and adds additional claims or disclosures.
Continuation-in-part application: Similar to a continuation application, but also includes new matter not present in the prior application.
Divisional application: Separates part of a pending non-provisional application into a new application, allowing for the claims to be divided into two or more applications.
## Enforcing Patent Rights
Filing a lawsuit: The patent owner can sue for patent infringement if someone uses, makes, sells, or offers to sell the patented invention without permission.
Damages: The patent owner may recover actual damages caused by the infringement, lost profits, and reasonable attorney fees.
Injunctions: Courts may issue injunctions to prevent further infringement and preserve the patent owner's rights.
## Patent Search and Examination
Patent search: This involves searching through patent databases to identify relevant prior art that may affect the patentability of an invention.
Examination: Once an application is filed, it is examined by a patent examiner to determine whether it meets the requirements of patentability, including novelty, non-obviousness, and utility.
## Infringement and Potential Consequences
Direct infringement: Occurs when someone makes, uses, sells, or offers to sell a product or process that infringes the claims of a patent.
Indirect infringement: Occurs when someone contributes to or induces others to infringe a patent, such as by providing materials or instructions.
Contributory infringement: Occurs when someone sells a component that is specifically designed to be used in a way that infringes a patent.
Potential consequences of infringement: Patent infringement can lead to legal action, damages, injunctions, and potential criminal charges in some cases.