An inventor of a new, useful, and nonobvious invention who adequately discloses her invention to the public is entitled to a utility patent. Unlike a design patent or a plant patent, a utility patent covers an invention that serves some useful purpose. In general, utility patents grant their owners exclusive rights for 20 years from the date on which the owner first filed her patent application.

A patent gives its owner the right to exclude others from making, using, selling, or offering to...