What is the difference between a utility patent and a plant patent in intellectual property?
A utility patent and a plant patent are both forms of intellectual property protection; however, they both are different in terms of purposes and coverage of types of inventions. Utility Patent : A utility patent is the most common type of patent and is granted for new and useful processes, machines, manufactured items, or compositions of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof. It protects the way an invention is used and works, its functionality, and how it is made. Utility patents typically cover inventions in various fields such as technology, engineering, chemistry, and medicine. The term of a utility patent is generally 20 years from the date of filing (extendable in some jurisdiction). Plant Patent : A plant patent, on the other hand, is granted for new and distinct plant varieties that are asexually reproducible. This means that the plant can be reproduced through methods such as grafting or rooting cuttings. Plant patents are typically sought for newly discovered or ...