The term "certificate of invention" refers to an official document that grants an inventor exclusive rights to his or her invention. There are several synonyms for this phrase, which include patents, utility models, and industrial designs. Patents are legal documents that protect an inventor's intellectual property rights for a specific period. Utility models, on the other hand, are similar to patents but are less complex and easier to obtain. Industrial designs refer to the visual appearance of an object or product, and protect the unique design of an invention. While these concepts are similar in nature, each type of certificate of invention offers varying degrees of protection and benefits to the inventor.