Benefits of Patent

The historical purpose of the patent system was to encourage the development of new inventions, and in particular to encourage the disclosure of those new inventions. Inventors are often hesitant to reveal the details of their invention for fear that someone else might copy it. A government granted temporary monopoly on the commercial use of their invention provides a remedy for this fear. After the monopoly period (usually 20 years) expires, everyone else is free to practice the invention. And because of the disclosure made by the inventor, it is very easy to practice the invention.