Patent laws are legal regulations that grant inventors exclusive rights to their inventions for a limited time, typically 20 years. This means that others cannot make, use, or sell the invention without permission. The purpose of these laws is to encourage innovation by providing inventors with a financial incentive to develop new ideas and technologies. To obtain a patent, an inventor must file an application with a government agency, such as the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The application must include a detailed description of the invention and demonstrate that it is novel, non-obvious, and useful. Once granted, the patent holder can enforce their rights against unauthorized use.