Patents

Patents are exclusive rights granted to inventors for a limited period of time, in exchange for the public disclosure of their invention. In the context of space and astronautical engineering, patents can be granted for a wide range of inventions, including spacecraft designs, propulsion systems, communication technologies, and scientific instruments. Patents play an important role in promoting innovation and encouraging investment in research and development, by providing inventors with a legal framework to protect their intellectual property and prevent others from using or profiting from their ideas without permission. Patents can also facilitate technology transfer and collaboration between different organizations, by allowing inventors to license their inventions to others for commercial or non-commercial use. However, the patent system can also be complex and expensive, and there are ongoing debates about the balance between protecting intellectual property and promoting access to technology and knowledge.