What are the distinctions between a patent and a patent application? Do the terms and conditions for licensing vary?
Unlike some intellectual property rights, patents are applied for at national or regional patent offices. They are usually examined by the respective offices to determine whether they meet the requirements of patentability (whether they are novel inventive and capable of industrial application) and, if they do, they are granted. It is generally not until they are granted that proceedings to prevent infringement can be taken. Although it is possible that there will be ultimately be differences between the license terms for patents and applications, we do not currently anticipate that that will be the case.
