11.2.1 The Patent System refers to the system of intellectual property protection that is available to inventors, authors, and other creators of original works. It is a set of laws and regulations that protect the inventor's right to exclusive use of their invention. Patent protection is granted by the government in exchange for the inventor's disclosure of the invention. It is designed to encourage innovation by allowing inventors to benefit from their work. There are two types of patents in the United States: utility patents and design patents. Utility patents protect inventions that are useful, new, and non-obvious. Design patents protect the design of a functional item. Patents last for a set period of time, usually 20 years from the date of filing. During the patent period, the inventor has the exclusive right to make, use, and sell the invention. After the patent expires, the invention is in the public domain and anyone can use it without the inventor's permission.