The term 'Patent Predecessor' refers to an IDEA that came before the patent. An IDEA is a thought or concept that can be developed into a product or service. It is the first step in the process of creating something new. The crossword solution for this term is 'IDEA', which is a four-letter word. This term is used to describe the origin of a patent, which is the legal protection given to an invention or creative work. A patent predecessor is the IDEA that was developed before the patent was granted.