which patent document defines the rights?

The patent document that defines the rights granted to the patent holder is the “patent grant,” also known as the “letters patent.” The patent grant is issued by the government agency responsible for granting patents (such as the United States Patent and Trademark Office in the U.S.), and it contains a detailed description of the invention, as well as the specific claims that define the scope of the patent protection.

The patent grant specifies the exclusive rights granted to the patent holder, which typically include the right to prevent others from making, using, selling, and importing the invention without permission for a specified period of time. The duration of the patent protection varies depending on the country where the patent is granted, but in many cases, it is around 20 years from the filing date of the patent application.

It is important to note that the scope of the patent protection is limited to the specific claims made in the patent grant. If someone else invents a similar product or process that falls outside the scope of the patent claims, they may be able to develop and commercialize their invention without infringing on the patent holder’s rights.