Patent

• A patent is awarded to an inventor of a unique product or industrial process for a period of 20 years within the U.S. The United States Patent & Trademark Office explains maintenance fees are paid throughout the life of a patent to maintain the patent's validity.
  
  

Process

• The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society website reports a patent holder's first step in proving a patent violation is to send a cease and desist letter with details of the patent to the alleged violators. Following the letter, experts are usually employed to complete a study determining if a patent has been infringed and whether the infringement is willful.
  
  

Lawsuit

• According to the Lawyers website, a lawsuit is often the end result of a patent violation, overseen by a federal court judge. If a patent violation is found, financial damages are usually awarded to the patent holder.