Legal Definitions - Venetian patent statute

The Venetian Patent Statute was a law created in Venice in 1474. It gave inventors the right to exclusively make and use their inventions for a period of ten years. This was the first known patent law and included procedures for securing and enforcing the right to exclude others from using the invention.

For example, if an inventor created a new type of machine, they could apply for a Venetian patent. If granted, they would have the exclusive right to make and use the machine for ten years. During this time, no one else could make or use the machine without the inventor's permission.

The Venetian Patent Statute was an important development in the history of intellectual property rights. It paved the way for modern patent laws that protect inventors and encourage innovation.