Module 1
Patent Foundations for Software Developers
Start here if you're new to patents or only know that they're "legal stuff".
How to use this learning path
This learning path is for software developers, tech leads, product people and founders who want to understand software patents well enough to:
- Spot patentable ideas in ongoing projects, and
- Prepare a clear invention brief for a patent professional.
You don't need any prior IP knowledge. Read modules 1–4 for the basics, and the rest when you're actively thinking about filing.
What is a patent?
A patent is a time-limited exclusive right granted by a government.
- Typical duration: about 20 years from filing.
- It gives the owner the right to stop others from making, using or selling the claimed invention in that country.
- In exchange, the inventor must publicly disclose how the invention works.
Think of a patent as: A 20-year "no one else can do this without permission" right, in exchange for telling the world how it works.
Key concepts in patent language
- Invention – A technical solution to a problem. In software: a specific way to process data, control a system, or implement a feature.
- Claims – The legal "API" of the patent. A numbered list of statements that define exactly what is protected.
- Specification / description – The detailed documentation of the invention, similar to a very thorough design document plus examples.
- Prior art – Everything publicly known before your filing date: patents, papers, blog posts, GitHub repos, talks, standards docs, etc.
Why companies care about patents
- Defensive – Prevent competitors from copying your key differentiators.
- Offensive / licensing – License patents or use them in cross-licensing deals.
- Valuation – Patents can increase company value as IP assets.
- Talent & branding – "Inventor" titles and patent programs can motivate and retain engineers.
Summary – Foundations:
- Patents are time-limited exclusive rights in exchange for public disclosure.
- What's actually protected lives in the claims, not the title or abstract.
- Prior art is anything already public before you file.