According to the USPTO, "A U.S. patent gives... the inventor, the right to 'exclude others from making, using, offering for sale, or selling' an invention or 'importing' it into the U.S. ... What is granted is not the right to make, use, offer for sale, sell or import the invention, but the right to stop others from doing so [emphasis added]. If someone infringes on your patent, you may initiate legal action. U.S. patents are effective only within the U.S. and its territories and possessions."
The USPTO answers further basic questions about patents on this page. If you have further questions, please reach out to a PTRC Representative. You can contact us by email at lib-ptrc@osu.edu.
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