Patentee

A patentee is an individual or legal entity that has been granted a patent, which is a set of exclusive rights granted by a government to an inventor or their assignee for a limited period, typically 20 years from the filing date. This right gives the patentee the legal authority to exclude others from making, using, selling, or importing the patented invention. The patentee effectively owns the intellectual property related to the invention during the patent's term, allowing them to commercialize the innovation or license its use to others for a fee. The patentee is responsible for maintaining the patent by paying required maintenance fees throughout its duration.

Patentee meaning with examples

• The small startup, after years of research and development, finally received notification that they were the patentee for their groundbreaking new solar panel design. They now had the exclusive right to manufacture and sell their panels, hoping to disrupt the market and attract investors.
• Before investing in the new medical device company, the venture capitalist scrutinized their portfolio of patents, verifying the identity of the patentee for each innovation to ensure the intellectual property was properly secured and could be exploited.
• When the larger corporation attempted to replicate the technology, the patentee of the original invention filed a lawsuit for patent infringement. They argued that their exclusive rights were being violated through unauthorized manufacturing.
• After her death, the deceased inventor's estate became the patentee for her revolutionary water purification system, ensuring the device was commercially distributed, and the system could prevent the water crisis around the world.
• The patentee decided to license their technology to several manufacturers in different countries, a strategic move aimed at expanding the reach of their product while mitigating the risks and costs associated with global distribution.