If, by chance, a program is patented, the patent owner has the exclusive right to make, use or sell it for 17 years.

US universities also fall into this class of patent owners.

The patent owner has only the "exclusive right" to stop others from doing so.

The patent owner must be very careful when communicating with possible infringers.

Tegic developed and was the patent owner of T9 technology.

The patent owner can give other people permission to use their patent.

The person that wants to use another person's patent will usually pay money to the patent owner.

The problem is when patent owners pick unfairly on small companies.

The correspondence is strictly between the examiner and the patent owner.

It is the responsibility of patent owners to enforce their patents.