A patent is a form of intellectual property that is generally any exclusive rights granted to any individual by a certain institution for a particular research, invention, or idea. These rights is governed by the law to which the inventor resides or the institution where the research was made for a period of time.

Utility - is granted when a particular invention has known benefits and capable of usage for a particular purpose. These include the invention of machines, manufactured products, or any useful process. The owner of the invention has the rights to make, use, reproduce and sell the invention with a span of 20 years from the date of patent application.

Design -It is issued for new, original and ornamental designs that are applied in a certain products. Examples of which are the shape of the bottles, jewellery designs and the shapes of the mobile phones. Anyone who copies the design from the original maker can be sued and fined depending on the degree of infringement. Even if the copy is only substantially similar, the maker of the copied design is still responsible.

Plant - is issued for any invented or discovered plant which is asexually reproduced. However, not all countries allow plant patents. These include cultivated sports, hybrids, and newly discovered seedlings.

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. Plant patents may be granted to anyone who invents or discovers and asexually reproduces any distinct and new variety of plant. (The United States Patent and Trademark Office)