The Patent Application Process A patent law attorney should be sought out to secure a patent. Applications are submitted to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
The federal government does not enforce patent rights, so patent litigation is a private matter. If a patent holder believes that another party has infringed upon their patent and chooses to litigate, they will file a civil lawsuit in a U.S. district court.
Patents are protected for up to 20 years. The statute of limitations for a civil action for patent infringement is six years. 35 U.S.C. §286.