Technology continues to develop along with changing times. In this digital era, we cannot be separated from the use of technological features in our daily lives. But did you know that various innovations from the technology products we use have patents? A patent is a protection of Kekayaan Intelektual, KI, or what is known internationally as Intellectual Property, IP. IP is a right that comes from intellectual thought or activity that results in a product or process that is beneficial to human interests and has economic benefits. A patent is a protection of an invention in solving problems in the field of technology. The word patent comes from the Latin patere which means to be open. In other words, the resulting invention must be open and published to the public. In return, the country grants these exclusive rights to inventors for a certain period of time as stipulated in Law Number 13 of 2016. In patents, the terms invention and inventor are known. What is meant by invention and inventor? An inventor is an individual or several persons jointly implementing an idea put into an activity resulting in an invention. Meanwhile, an invention is a finding which is an inventor’s idea put into certain problem-solving activity in the field of technology which can be a product, a process including systems and methods, as well as the development and improvement of the process or product. How long is the term of patent protection? The term of patent protection is 20 years for ordinary patents and 10 years for simple patents. The patent protection system in Indonesia is granted from the date of filing or first to file and cannot be extended. What do you need to know before filing a patent application? Before filing a patent application to the Directorate General of Intellectual Property of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, it is better if the invention to be submitted has not been published, or a maximum of 6 months in closed sessions and scientific forums. or a maximum of 6 months in closed sessions and scientific forums. Then perform comparative documents searches and patentability analysis first which aims to meet the patentability requirements, namely novelty, contains an inventive step, and can be applied in the industry or industrial applicable. LIPI, as a national research institute, is the largest patent producer in Indonesia. The function of managing IP, including patents at LIPI, has been carried out by the Center for Innovation since 2001. A total of more than 750 patents have been produced and registered by LIPI at the Directorate General of IPR, starting from 1991 to September 2018. What are the benefits of patents? Apart from being a form of legal protection for intellectual property, patents are also a moral reward for innovators for their work that has been produced in the field of science and technology so that it is useful, encourages enthusiasm, and fosters creativity to continue working and creating. Patents also increase the capacity of science and technology industrial competitiveness, and grow the country’s economy.