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Types of Patents
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There are three types of patents:
- Utility patents may be granted to anyone who invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, article of manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof;
- Design patents may be granted to anyone who invents a new, original, and ornamental design for an article of manufacture; and
- Plant patents may be granted to anyone who invents or discovers and asexually reproduces any distinct and new variety of plant.
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![Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property Jon Dudas addresses participants at the Conference on Intellectual Property in the Global Marketplace in Miami, FL on September 26](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20080922152806im_/http://www.uspto.gov/smallbusiness/images/2005sep26miami.jpg)
Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property Jon Dudas addresses participants at the Conference on Intellectual Property in the Global Marketplace in Miami, FL on September 26
![Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for IP Steve Pinkos shows a Texas small business audience nearly identical real and fake boat gauges in Austin, Texas on Sep. 12, 2005](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20080922152806im_/http://www.uspto.gov/smallbusiness/images/2005sep12austin.jpg)
Former Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for IP Steve Pinkos shows a Texas small business audience nearly identical real and fake boat gauges in Austin, Texas on Sep. 12, 2005
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