The Patent Act of 1790

The Patent Act of 1790 was the first law in the United States to establish a formal process for inventors to protect their creations. It allowed inventors to apply for a patent, giving them exclusive rights to their invention for a period, typically 14 years, preventing others from making or selling it without permission. The law aimed to encourage innovation by rewarding inventors with legal protections, fostering technological progress and economic growth. It laid the foundation for the modern patent system, balancing inventors’ rights with public benefit by eventually making patents publicly available.