Legal Definitions - Internet patent

An Internet patent refers to a type of patent granted for inventions that involve internet-related technologies, software, or business methods implemented online. It is not a distinct legal category of patent but rather a standard utility patent applied to innovations that operate on, interact with, or are enabled by the internet.

Essentially, an Internet patent provides the patent holder with exclusive rights to make, use, sell, and import their internet-related invention for a limited period, preventing others from doing so without permission. These inventions can range from specific algorithms and software processes to novel online user interfaces and systems for managing data or transactions over the web.

Here are some examples to illustrate the concept:

• Example 1: A Secure Online Authentication System

  Imagine a company develops a completely new method for users to securely log into websites without passwords, perhaps using a unique combination of biometric data and a distributed ledger technology that operates over the internet. This novel system, including its underlying algorithms and the way it interacts with web servers and user devices, could be protected by an Internet patent. The patent would cover the specific processes and architecture that make this secure, password-less authentication possible across various online platforms.

• Example 2: An Innovative E-commerce Recommendation Engine

  Consider an online retail platform that invents a sophisticated algorithm that not only suggests products based on a user's past purchases but also analyzes their real-time browsing behavior, social media interactions, and even local weather patterns to provide highly personalized and timely product recommendations. The unique method by which this algorithm collects, processes, and delivers these recommendations through the internet to individual users could be eligible for an Internet patent. This patent would protect the specific, non-obvious steps and logic of this advanced recommendation system.

• Example 3: A Novel Method for Streaming Interactive Content

  A startup develops a new internet-based system that allows multiple users in different locations to simultaneously stream a live event and interact with it in real-time, such as voting on outcomes or influencing the content directly through a shared interface. The invention lies in the unique architecture and protocols that enable this low-latency, multi-user interactive streaming experience over the internet. An Internet patent could protect this specific method of content delivery and user interaction, covering the technical processes that facilitate such a novel online experience.