1. What type of things (inventions) can be protected by a patent?

Generally speaking, either a product or a process can be the subject matter of a patent. Products generally cover machines (the functional features of machines) and manufactured articles (single objects without moveable parts, such as a table or a cup). In respect of processes, they are methods which consist of a series of steps for making a certain product or accomplishing a certain result. Examples include the process for making a specific kind of medicine. Under the Patents Ordinance, an invention must satisfy three main requirements before a patent can be granted to that invention.

Due to the vast number of products or processes for which one can obtain a patent (and some of them might be very similar to yours, and already have been registered), you should seek professional advice from a patent agent or lawyer before making an application.