Here’s a link to an infographic explaining patents, a quick guide.This is the second version – I created the original version for a design journal published in 1995! I found the journal recently (gong through some old boxes in my basement) and thought I would update it and re-publish it here.
You can find a full-size pdf version here or you can view a black & white pdf version (which may be better for printing) or a jpeg version.