1
as in copyrights
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2
as in grants
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Recent Examples of patents
In the United States, meanwhile, dozens of patents should keep Wegovy generics off the market until 2039, said professor Robin Feldman, a patent expert at the University of California Law-San Francisco.
—
Elisabeth Rosenthal, Miami Herald, 13 May 2026
Viture further claims similar patents have have been rejected in China, and that Xreal’s patent adds only minor, appearance-level changes rather than true optical innovation.
—Charlie Fink, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
After all, patents do temporarily block rival companies from introducing copycat products to compete against the earlier inventor and patent holder.
—David J. Kappos, Fortune, 8 Jan. 2026
For example, if prior art reveals that a new combination therapy improves treatment outcomes, officials may deem subsequent patents using the same drug cocktail as obvious and refuse to grant or enforce the patent.
—Lucy Xiaolu Wang, The Conversation, 23 Sep. 2025
Elisabeth Rosenthal, Miami Herald, 13 May 2026
Viture further claims similar patents have have been rejected in China, and that Xreal’s patent adds only minor, appearance-level changes rather than true optical innovation.
—Charlie Fink, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
After all, patents do temporarily block rival companies from introducing copycat products to compete against the earlier inventor and patent holder.
—David J. Kappos, Fortune, 8 Jan. 2026
For example, if prior art reveals that a new combination therapy improves treatment outcomes, officials may deem subsequent patents using the same drug cocktail as obvious and refuse to grant or enforce the patent.
—Lucy Xiaolu Wang, The Conversation, 23 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for patents
Noun
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Estates include everything that person owned, such as cash in bank accounts, any homes, boats, vehicles, clothing, jewelry, furniture, stocks, bonds, retirement accounts, intellectual property – copyrights, patents and trademarks – and other valuable things.—
James Malm,
The Conversation,
1 June 2026
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Entry must be the original work of the entrant, may not have been previously published, may not have won previous awards, and must not infringe upon the copyrights, trademarks, rights of privacy, publicity or other intellectual property or other rights of any person or entity.—
Tim McGovern,
PEOPLE,
18 May 2026
Noun
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He’s expected to spend $425 million on existing coal plants and $75 million on an export terminal under the Defense Production Act, as well as $185 million on new coal plants using Energy Department grants.—
Eleanor Mueller,
semafor.com,
4 June 2026
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Scientists across multiple disciplines are sounding the alarm after the White House proposed taking greater control over how scientific research gets funded and allowing political appointees to decide whether to approve scientific grants.—
Andrew Freedman,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
Noun
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That address has been used for trademarks held by the shoe company in multiple different countries.—
Sara Germano,
Sportico.com,
3 June 2026
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Workday and the Workday logo are trademarks of Workday, Inc.—
Forbes.com,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Noun
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But even putting such public health prerogatives aside, such mandates can serve as powerful protections that advance the interests of children who themselves would otherwise have gone unvaccinated.—
Adam W. Gaffney,
STAT,
18 May 2026
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Some of the players involved said Lurie is still trying to figure out how to balance competing prerogatives without damaging his relationships.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Patents.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patents. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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