patent protection
noun[U]
LAWukuslawsthatprotectapersonor acompanythat hascreateda newproductor way of doing something, bystoppinganyoneelsefromcopyingor using it for aparticularperiodoftime:
apply for/extend/grant patent protectionThebiotechnologyfirmsaid it wasapplyingforpatentprotectionfor thediscoveries.
Previousdrugslostpatentprotectionandsuccumbedtocopycatcompetition.