A patent: an exclusive right granted for an invention or technology, protecting the inventor for a limited period.
新しい機械の発明を特許申請した。
I filed a patent application for a new machine invention.
その技術は特許で保護されている。
That technology is protected by a patent.
特許を取るには長い審査が必要だ。
It takes a long examination process to obtain a patent.
A special permission, license, or concession granted (e.g., to operate or exploit something); a licence/charter in the sense of exclusive permission.
港の埠頭での営業には市からの特許が必要だ。
Operating at the harbor wharf requires a license from the city.
会社は鉱山採掘の特許を得て、そこで採掘権を行使した。
The company obtained a concession for mining and exercised extraction rights there.
露店の出店には関係当局の特許が必要だと説明された。
We were told that a vendor license from the authorities is required to set up a stall.