專利，常指專利權，是專利權人在法律規定的期限內，對其發明創造享有的獨佔權。專利權是需要申請人按照法律規定的手續進行申請，並經審查批准才能獲得的。
專利權是一種知識產權，是一種無形財產。專利權在有效期限內，與有形財產一樣，可以繼承及轉讓。
A patent, often referring to patent right, is the exclusive right enjoyed by the patentee over its invention and creation within the time limit prescribed by law. A patent right can only be obtained when the applicant files an application in accordance with statutory procedures and the application is examined and approved.
As a form of intellectual property, patent right is intangible property. Within its valid term, a patent right may be inherited and transferred in the same way as tangible property.
一項發明獲取專利後可以得到什麼保護？
What protection is available for an invention after a patent is granted?
專利權人在規定期限內享有製造、使用、銷售、許諾銷售和進口其專利產品或使用其專利方法。專利權人有權禁止其他單位或個人實施其專利。
任何第三人必須事先徵得專利權人的許可並支付一定的報酬，才能使用該項發明，否則將構成侵犯專利權的行為。
Within the prescribed term, the patentee enjoys the rights to manufacture, use, sell, offer for sale and import the patented product, or use the patented method. The patentee has the right to prohibit other entities or individuals from exploiting the patent.
專利可分多少種類？
How many types of patents are there?
專利主要分為三類：發明專利、實用專利和設計及新型專利。
Patents are mainly divided into three categories: Invention Patents, Utility Patents and Design Patents.
1. 發明專利，指對產品、方法或其改進所提出的新的技術方案。
2. 實用專利（又稱實用新型專利）是對產品的形狀、構造或其結合所作出的適於實用的新的技術方案。
3. 設計及新型專利，是指對產品的形狀、圖案或兩者的結合，以及色彩與形狀、圖案的結合所作出的富有美感並適用於工業應用的新設計。
1. An Invention Patent refers to a new technical solution relating to a product, a process or an improvement thereof.
2. A Utility Patent (also known as Utility Model Patent) refers to a new practical technical solution relating to the shape, structure, or combination thereof of a product.
3. A Design Patent refers to a new design which is aesthetically pleasing and suitable for industrial application, relating to the shape, pattern, or combination thereof of a product, as well as the combination of colours with shape or pattern.
發明、實用專利與設計及新型專利如何區別？
How to distinguish between Invention Patents, Utility Patents and Design Patents?
發明、實用專利著重於產品的功能、技術、製造及使用方便性等方面的改進；而實用專利的技術水平較發明專利為低。
設計及新型，又稱外觀設計，是對產品的外觀（包括形狀、圖案或這兩者的組合，以及色彩與形狀、色彩與圖案的組合）所作出的富於藝術性，具有美感的創造，且具備為產業上所利用的實用性。
因此，設計及新型與前兩項的專利類型有明顯的不同，它更注重創造的美感和藝術性，以增進產品在市場上的競爭力。
Invention Patents and Utility Patents focus on improvements to the function, technology, manufacture and user-friendliness of products; the technical standard required for Utility Patents is lower than that for Invention Patents.
A Design Patent, also known as an industrial design, is an aesthetic, artistic creation concerning the appearance of a product (including shape, pattern, a combination thereof, and combinations of colour with shape or pattern) which is applicable for industrial use.
Accordingly, Design Patents differ markedly from the other two patent categories. They place greater emphasis on the aesthetic and artistic value of the creation to enhance the product’s market competitiveness.
發明、實用專利與設計及新型專利的保護期如何計算？
How is the protection term calculated for Invention Patents, Utility Patents and Design Patents?
發明專利（或其延伸申請）批給後，其存續期為自申請日（或其於國內的申請日）起計20年。
實用專利批給後，其存續期自申請日起計10年。
設計及新型註冊批給後，其存續期自申請日起計25年。
Once an Invention Patent (or its extension application) is granted, its term of protection is 20 years calculated from the filing date (or its domestic filing date).
Once a Utility Patent is granted, its term of protection is 10 years calculated from the filing date.
Once a Design registration is granted, its term of protection is 25 years calculated from the filing date.
何種技術只能申請發明專利，不能申請實用專利？
What kind of technology is only eligible for an Invention Patent and not a Utility Patent?
發明專利與實用專利的保護對象不同，發明專利的較廣。方法、物質（無一定空間型態）、生物材料及其利用只能申請發明專利，不能申請實用專利。產品（有一定空間型態）則可以申請發明及／或實用專利；但若同時申請兩種專利，則只能獲批准任一種專利。
Invention Patents and Utility Patents protect different subject matters, with the scope of protection for Invention Patents being broader. Processes, substances (without a fixed spatial form), biological materials and their exploitation may only be filed as Invention Patents and are not eligible for Utility Patents. Products (with a fixed spatial form) may apply for Invention Patents and/or Utility Patents. Nevertheless, if both types of patents are applied for concurrently, only one of them may be granted.
為何單純的發現不能列為發明專利的類型？
Why is a mere discovery not regarded as a type of invention for patent purposes?
自然界中客觀存在的物質、現象、變化過程、特性及規律，僅為一種發現行為，並無創作行為，不符合法定意義上的發明創造，不能被授予專利權。
Substances, phenomena, processes of change, properties and laws that objectively exist in nature constitute merely an act of discovery rather than creation. They do not qualify as inventions or creations under the law and cannot be granted patent rights.
什麼是設計及新型？
What is a Design Patent?
設計及新型，又稱外觀設計，是對產品的外觀（包括形狀、圖案或這兩者的組合，以及色彩與形狀、色彩與圖案的組合）所作出的富於藝術性，具有美感的創造，且具備為產業上所利用的實用性。
A Design Patent, also known as an industrial design, is an aesthetic, artistic creation concerning the appearance of a product (including shape, pattern, a combination thereof, and combinations of colour with shape or pattern) which is applicable for industrial use.
色彩是否為設計及新型註冊所保護？
Are colours protected under Design Registration?
產品所具備的或裝飾所使用的色彩屬於設計及新型註冊所保護的對象。申請設計及新型包含色彩時，應就色彩的結合提出權利要求，且有關附圖或照片應顯示出該權利要求中所指的色彩。
Colours inherent to a product or used for decoration are subject to protection under Design Registration. Where an application for design registration includes colours, the claim shall be directed to the combination of colours, and the accompanying drawings or photographs shall show the colours as specified in the claim.
哪些設計不可申請註冊？
Which designs are not registrable?
不受設計及新型註冊所保護的項目包括：純功能性設計的物品造型（例如：USB插頭）；不能單獨使用或構成獨立產品的、在組合後能使產品與其他產品相結合的、具有特定形狀及大小的組件的外觀特徵（例如：積木玩具的其中一塊）。
Items excluded from design registration protection include: the shape of articles serving purely a functional purpose (e.g. a USB plug); the appearance features of components of specific shape and dimension that cannot be used or exist as independent products and are intended to be assembled with other products (e.g. a single piece of building block toy).