Inventive Step

An inventive step refers to the requirement in patent law that an invention must be significantly different from existing knowledge or solutions in its field. This ensures that the invention is not just a small modification or an obvious idea that anyone skilled in the area could easily come up with. An inventive step demonstrates that the invention offers a new approach or unexpected benefit, making it deserving of protection. Essentially, it gauges the creativity and originality of the invention compared to what was already known.