A patent is a right to the inventor, in exchange for public disclosure, to exclude others from making, selling, importing or using the invention for a limited period of time in the territory for which the right is granted.
The invention can be patented only when it is new, inventive and useful. Patents are published so that other people can benefit from the information they contain.
There are no "world patents". Application of patents must be filed in each country. Patenting cooperation treaties, such as PCT – The International Patent System of World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and European Patent Office (EPO), can help simplify the process.