Which legal protection secures inventive concepts for 20 years from the filing date?

Patents provide legal protection for inventive concepts, granting the holder exclusive rights to the invention for a duration of 20 years from the filing date. This protection allows inventors to exclude others from making, using, selling, or distributing the patented invention without their permission. The primary purpose of a patent is to incentivize innovation by ensuring that inventors can benefit financially from their creations without the fear of reproduction or exploitation by others during this period.

In contrast, copyrights protect original works of authorship, such as literary, musical, and artistic works, typically for the life of the author plus an additional number of years (not a set 20 years). Trademarks protect brand names, logos, and slogans that distinguish goods and services, while copyright licenses are agreements that allow the use of copyrighted material under specified conditions, but they do not provide the same level of protection for inventions as patents do.