A patent is a temporary privilege granting exclusive exploitation by the State to the claims in an application if it meets the requirements of the law.

The characteristics of this type of protection are:

• Protected object: new technical inventions involving an inventive step and are capable of industrial application.
• Type of protection: Exclusive right to industrial and commercial exploitation of the patented. Prevent any others from making, offering, using, marketing or importing the invention without the consent of the owner.
• Duration: 20 years renewable with the payment of annual fees from its concession.
• Competent Body
  • Spain: SPTO
  • Europe: EPO
  • International: WIPO

Patents are a major source of information in the practice of surveillance technology. 70% of the literature on technology is only through patents. They provide the organization with relevant information, detailed and proactive about new products or technologies in the market. They are also international standards documents.