Legal Definitions - patent deed

A patent deed is a document that is sent out by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) when a patent is granted to an applicant. It contains important information about the patent, such as the names of the inventors, the specification, and the claims.

For example, if John invents a new type of phone and applies for a patent, the USPTO will review his application and, if approved, will send him a patent deed that confirms his patent has been granted.

It's important to note that a patent deed only proves that the patent was granted by the USPTO, but it doesn't guarantee that the patent is still valid. To keep a patent valid, the inventor must maintain it with the USPTO by paying maintenance fees on time. If the fees are not paid, the patent will expire.

For instance, if John fails to pay the maintenance fees for his phone patent, the patent will expire, and he will no longer have exclusive rights to his invention.