Technology does not receive specific legal protection until it becomes patented.
(1) Patents are protected by patent law; technology is not subject to specific protection.
(2) Patents are advanced technologies that have been reviewed and approved with a relatively high level of novelty and creativity and have economic value; proprietary technologies only have potential economic value.
(3) The content of the patent is public; the technical content can be kept confidential.
(4) The content of the patent is completely reflected in the patent document. When licensing a patent, the licensor generally does not assume the obligation to teach the technology.
(5) The validity of patents is limited by time and geography; technology has no such restrictions.