Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Not protected by patent: Describes an invention, device, or process for which a patent has not been granted or sought. This means the item is not legally protected from being made, used, or sold by others.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • The company decided to keep the manufacturing process unpatented as a trade secret.
  • Many unpatented inventions from the 19th century are now freely used in modern industry.
  • Releasing the design as unpatented allowed for rapid innovation and adaptation by other engineers.

Advanced Usage

• "to remain unpatented": to stay without patent protection.
  • The formula remained unpatented, known only to a few master craftsmen.
• "deliberately unpatented": intentionally not patented.
  • The software was released as deliberately unpatented open-source code.

Variants and Related Words

• Patent (n/adj/v): The legal right or document granting exclusive rights; to obtain such a right.
  • They filed for a patent to protect their new engine design.
• Patentable (adj): Capable of being patented.
  • The discovery was novel and patentable.
• Unpatentable (adj): Not capable of being patented, often because it lacks novelty or is a natural law.
  • Abstract ideas are generally unpatentable.

Synonyms

• Non-proprietary: Not owned or controlled exclusively by a single party.
• Public domain: Belonging to the public as a whole, not subject to copyright or patent.

Antonyms

• Patented: Protected by an official patent.
• Proprietary: Relating to an owner or ownership; often protected by patent or trademark.

Adjective

1. (of devices and processes) not protected by patent
   • unpatented inventions