The applicant is a natural person or entity that enjoys the right to apply for an invention or creation. After the patent application is authorized, the applicant becomes the patent owner and enjoys the patent right in accordance with the law.

Inventor refers to a person who makes creative contributions to the substantive features of an invention or creation. In the process of completing an invention or creation, those who are only responsible for organizing work, providing convenience for the utilization of material and technical conditions, or engaging in other auxiliary work are not inventors. Inventors can only be natural persons, and organizations cannot act as inventors.