The best replacement for patent is copyright.

The best alternatives to patent are rated as following:
★★★★★  copyright
★★★★  trade secret
★★★★  trademark
★★★  latent
★  utility patent
★  copyright software
★  latent ambiguity
★  license
★  design patent
★  latent defects
★  publication
★  not to patent
★  exclusivity
★  copywrite
  patent pending
  intellectual property
  pu
  patent application
  prototype first
  know how
  data exclusivity
  no patent
  provisional patent
  latent ambiguities
  trade secret protection
  non provisional
  non-provisional patent
  non provisional patent
  paper
  trade dress
  open source
  licensing
  articles of incorporation
  patent
  blatant
  invention

Your alternative for patent is not listed? Suggest!
Speaking about patent, one probably shouldn't forget about traverse.

Other search terms related to patent and their ratings are:
★★★★★ traverse
★ product
You have in mind a companion for patent and it is not yet here? Propose!



Google Trends

Scale is based on the average worldwide traffic of patent in all years. Click on graph for more.
patent
copyright
trade secret