Legal Definitions - patentor

A patentor is the official entity or authority responsible for granting a patent. This is typically a government agency or office that, after reviewing an application and ensuring all legal requirements are met, formally issues the patent document, thereby conferring exclusive rights to an invention for a set period.

Here are some examples illustrating the role of a patentor:

• When an inventor in the United States successfully applies for protection for their new medical device, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) acts as the patentor. After examining the application, confirming the invention's novelty, non-obviousness, and utility, the USPTO issues the patent certificate, officially granting the inventor exclusive rights to their invention within the U.S.

• A technology company based in Germany develops a groundbreaking software algorithm and seeks patent protection across multiple European countries. The European Patent Office (EPO) serves as the patentor in this scenario. The EPO conducts a centralized examination process, and if the application meets the criteria, it grants a European patent, which can then be validated in individual member states, thereby providing broad regional protection.

• An agricultural research institute in Japan invents a new drought-resistant crop variety. The Japan Patent Office (JPO) functions as the patentor. Upon receiving the institute's application and verifying that the invention fulfills all national patentability requirements, the JPO formally issues the patent, granting the institute exclusive rights to commercialize and use the crop variety within Japan.