No. Patent right will not only being granted to new invention, but it will also be granted to the new process or improvement done on the existing product. For example, the new planting technique or the new function of a chair can also be registered patent. However, certain rules and regulations for patent registration should be followed.

The patent owner may have the exclusive right over the invention he/she registered. He/she has the right to decide who may - or may not - use the patented invention for the period in which the invention is protected. The patent owner may give permission to, or license, other parties to use the invention on mutually agreed terms. The owner may also sell the right to the invention to someone else, who will then become the new owner of the patent.

A patent is a limited monopoly granted by the government to inventors in exchange for public disclosure of how to make and use their invention. However, trade secret is anything tangible or intangible or electronically kept or stored, which includes secret scientific, technical, merchandising, production or management information, design, process, procedure, formula, invention or improvement.

Patent only protect invention but trade secret protects anything which the owner do not want their competitors to have knowledge on it. The patent invention must be new, useful and not obvious to the expertise in the same or related industry but the trade secret must be kept secret from others.

The protection for patent will last mostly 20 years from the date of filing but trade secret protection is indefinitely, as long as others do not have knowledge of it.