The process of submitting a patent application to the relevant government agency (such as the USPTO) to secure exclusive rights to an invention is known as patent filing. A patent grants the inventor the right to prevent others from making, using, selling, or importing the invention for a set period of time (usually 20 years from the filing date for a utility patent). Typically, the patent filing procedure includes preparing and submitting a detailed patent application that describes the invention and its distinguishing features. A patent examiner reviews the application and determines whether the invention meets the requirements for a patent. If the application is approved, the inventor is granted a patent, which protects their invention legally.