Inventions must be nonobvious, novel, and have utility.

Plant patents are for any new variety of plant, other than a tuber-propagated plants or plants found in an uncultivated state.

When a utility or plant patent expires, the subject matter of the patent becomes public domain.

Patents applications must be filed within one year of public announcement / sale

Provisional patents allow you to delay patent filing for up to one year

Plant and utility patents last 20 years from the date of filing.

Good notebooks are vital to a patent's strength.