A patent is a legal grant of protection given to an inventor (person or company) to protect the intellectual property rights of that party's invention. When a patent is awarded on a service or product, that gives the patent owner the legal right to block another party from borrowing or stealing the intellectual property of the invention. Only an individual inventor can be awarded a solo patent for the idea of the product or service. If two or more people create an invention, then they would apply for a patent as joint inventors.

Why is it important to learn about patents?

When it comes to understanding patents, it's important to learn that a company can be the owners of a patent you discover while working for the company. This can happen due to one or two conditions: 1) if you signed an employee agreement that assigned invention rights to the company, or 2) you were specifically hired to create inventions. If you develop a new invention (say, a new vaccine) while you're employed with a company, the company will likely own the patent, which is good in the United States for 20 years.

How does learning about patents help my career?

Learning about a patent application process and the subsequent award can help you increase your capabilities in business law and intellectual property knowledge. If you work in a medical science organization or a technology company that creates new innovations on a regular basis, it pays to know about the patent application process and award approval. This understanding can be a great foundation for you to build a career in copyright protection, trademarks, business innovation, and patent applications.

How can taking online courses increase my knowledge of patents?

When you take online courses to learn about patents, you will also learn details around protecting inventions by using patents. Explore the new insights about intellectual property laws, how to protect your inventions in different industries, and how to maximize the financial viability of a patent. you'll appreciate how your mind will get challenged in these online courses. More importantly, you'll love the flexibility and freedom that online courses provide for learning new subjects in your spare time.

What are the benefits of taking an online Patent course?

Online Patent courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Patent skills. Choose from a wide range of Patent courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.

What Patent courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Patent, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here .

Top Patent Courses - Learn Patent Online

Explore the Patent Course Catalog

Status: Free Trial
University of Pennsylvania
Patent Law
Skills you'll gain: Intellectual Property, Legal Strategy, Legal Risk, Regulation and Legal Compliance, Case Law, Business Strategy, Innovation, Analysis
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
291 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
University of Pennsylvania
Intellectual Property Law
Skills you'll gain: Intellectual Property, Brand Awareness, Legal Strategy, Brand Management, Asset Protection, Regulation and Legal Compliance, Packaging and Labeling, Asset Management, Law, Regulation, and Compliance, Marketing, Innovation, Case Law, Strategic Thinking, Business Strategy, Business Valuation, Creativity, Legal Risk, Lawsuits, Musical Composition, Planning
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
1.5K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Technical University of Denmark (DTU)
Patenting in Biotechnology
Skills you'll gain: Intellectual Property, Chemistry, Legal Risk, Regulation and Legal Compliance, Keyword Research, Molecular Biology, Database Management Systems, Technical Writing, Research Reports
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
239 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Protecting Business Innovations via Patent
Skills you'll gain: Intellectual Property, Business Process, Innovation, Business Strategy, Commercialization, New Product Development, Law, Regulation, and Compliance, Lawsuits, New Business Development, Legal Strategy
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
525 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Pennsylvania
Introduction to Intellectual Property
Skills you'll gain: Intellectual Property, Legal Strategy, Regulation and Legal Compliance, Business Strategy, Asset Management, Innovation, Brand Management, Case Law, Business Valuation, Economics, Policy Analysis
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
1K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
University of Maryland, College Park
Legal Aspects of Entrepreneurship
Skills you'll gain: Intellectual Property, Commercial Laws, Risk Management, Business Risk Management, Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurial Finance, Vendor Contracts, Legal Risk, Law, Regulation, and Compliance, Contract Negotiation, Contract Management, Contract Review, Business, Legal Strategy, Labor Law, Business Management, Business Planning, Business Strategy, Innovation, Regulation and Legal Compliance
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
251 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

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Explore topics outside of work

Status: Free Trial
EIT Digital
Value Creation Through Innovation
Skills you'll gain: Closing (Sales), Business Modeling, Cold Calling, Design Thinking, Customer Analysis, Entrepreneurship, Technology Roadmaps, Innovation, Sales Process, Market Research, Technology Strategies, Market Analysis, Target Market, Marketing, Business Strategy, Forecasting, Marketing Strategies, Strategic Planning, Competitive Analysis, Business Strategies
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
717 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Protecting Business Innovation
Skills you'll gain: Intellectual Property, E-Commerce, Global Marketing, Brand Management, Innovation, Strategic Partnership, Strategic Thinking, Business Strategy, Price Negotiation, New Business Development, Mergers & Acquisitions, Business Process, Digital Assets, Commercial Laws, Legal Strategy, Commercialization, Case Law, Legal Proceedings, New Product Development, Lawsuits
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
873 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Maryland, College Park
Product Ideation, Design, and Management
Skills you'll gain: Stakeholder Management, Product Management, Product Development, New Product Development, Wireframing, Financial Statements, Product Design, User Experience Design, Team Leadership, Prototyping, Competitive Analysis, Commercialization, Product Lifecycle Management, Financial Modeling, Value Propositions, Proposal Writing, Innovation, Target Market, Market Opportunities, Ideation
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
688 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Pennsylvania
Intellectual Property in the Healthcare Industry
Skills you'll gain: Intellectual Property, Healthcare Industry Knowledge, Pharmaceuticals, Health Care, Medical Privacy, Law, Regulation, and Compliance, Regulatory Affairs, Medical Science and Research, Research, Economics, Brand Strategy
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
139 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
Michigan State University
The Search for Great Ideas: Harnessing creativity to empower innovation.
Skills you'll gain: Design Thinking, Ideation, Innovation, Market Opportunities, Creative Thinking, Creativity, Entrepreneurship, Product Development, Resource Planning, Market Research, Customer Insights, User Research, Decision Making
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
303 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
Imperial College London
Global Health Innovations
Skills you'll gain: Innovation, Product Development, Intellectual Property, Design Thinking, Health Systems, Presentations, Public Speaking, Feasibility Studies, Commercialization, Ideation, Strategic Communication, Health Care, Organizational Change, Health Technology, Healthcare Industry Knowledge, Program Evaluation, Organizational Development, Entrepreneurship, Stakeholder Engagement, Public Health
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
277 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months