Knowledge Builders

is any evidence that your invention was already publicly known or available in whole or in part before the effective filing date of your patent application

by Dr. Antone Torp IV Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago

Prior art

Should I disclose my invention before filing a patent application?

Further, the novelty criteria may be interpreted differently depending on the applicable law. If disclosing your invention before filing a patent application is unavoidable – for example, to a potential investor or a business partner – then any disclosure should be accompanied by a confidentiality or non-disclosure agreement.

Is my invention patentable if it has no prior art?

Patentability doesn’t hinge on the existence of prior art. Instead, whether your invention is patentable depends on how different your invention is from the prior art. There are two criteria for patentability over prior art.

What are the key conditions for the patenting of an invention?

However, some of the key conditions include the following: The invention must show an element of novelty; that is, some new characteristic which is not known in the body of existing knowledge in its technical field. This body of existing knowledge is called “prior art”.

What is patent information?

What is patent information? Patent information commonly refers to the information found in patent applications and granted patents.

Is any evidence that your invention is already known?

Prior art is any evidence that your invention is already known. Prior art does not need to exist physically or be commercially available. It is enough that someone, somewhere, sometime previously has described or shown or made something that contains a use of technology that is very similar to your invention.

How do I know if my invention has already an existing patent?

Inventors are encouraged to search the USPTO's patent database to see if a patent has already been filed or granted that is similar to your patent. Patents may be searched in the USPTO Patent Full-Text and Image Database (PatFT).

Can you patent something already invented?

Can you patent an existing product? No, you cannot get a patent on an existing product because it does not meet: the novelty requirement and. the inventorship requirement.

What is patent effective filing date?

The AIA defines the term "effective filing date" for a claimed invention in a patent or application for patent (other than a reissue application or reissued patent) as the earliest of: (1) the actual filing date of the patent or the application for the patent containing the claimed invention; or (2) the filing date of ...

Are patent details public?

Can I obtain a patent and keep my invention secret? No. Patents are granted by patent offices in exchange for a full disclosure of the invention. In general, the details of the invention are then published and made available to the public at large.

Are patents public knowledge?

This way invention is encouraged through the monopoly to the inventor and technological arts and sciences are advanced by the disclosure of the invention to the public. Therefore the content of a patent is publicly available information.

Can I make a product that already exists?

You may ask, "Can I patent a product that already exists?" It's possible that existing products are protected in other ways besides "patenting," such as through a trademark or as a trade secret. A product's function or design that has features considered public domain isn't strong enough to obtain a patent.

Can I produce and sell an already patented product?

The U.S. Supreme Court in a recent ruling has opined on the rights of a purchaser to use and resell patented products. The patent system give the patent owner the right to exclude others from making, using, and selling the patented invention, for the life of the patent.

Which inventions are patentable?

any invention or technology which has not been anticipated by publication in any document or used in the country or elsewhere in the world before the date of filing of a patent application with complete specification, i.e., the subject matter has not fallen in the public domain or that it does not form part of the ...

What is the difference between effective filing date and priority date?

The filing date is the date when a patent application is first filed at a patent office. The priority date, sometimes called the "effective filing date", is the date used to establish the novelty and/or obviousness of a particular invention relative to other art.

Is filing date the priority date?

Priority date refers to the earliest filing date in a family of patent applications. Where only a single patent application is involved, the priority date would obviously be the filing date of the sole application.

What is an invention that is patentable?

An invention is only patent-eligible if it covers a “process, machine, manufacture or composition of matter,” and doesn’t fall within any of the judicial exceptions: laws of nature, abstract ideas, and natural phenomena.

What is provisional patent?

Provisional Patent Applications. Inventors often wonder whether the number of claims can affect the overall strength and value of their patent. In a patent, the claims determine the exclusive rights granted to the patent owner. As such, the strength of a patent lies not only in the described invention, but also in its claims.

What should a patent include?

To achieve this, your patent application should include: A mixture of broad claims , narrow claims, as well as varying levels of breadth in between. This makes it harder for an opponent to invalidate your entire patent at once. Multiple claims that use different language to describe a similar scope.

What is prior art in patents?

Prior art refers to any evidence that your invention was already publicly known or available, in whole or in part, before the effective filing date of your patent application. In litigation, a third party may use prior art to show that your claimed invention is not “novel” or “non-obvious.”

How many claims do you need to survive a patent?

But in patent litigation, you generally need only one claim to survive. As such, the key to a successful patent application lies in having enough claims so that at least one or two can survive all the challenges that the patent will eventually face in a litigation context.

Why do you have to have some claims to account for variability in the way that Section 101 will be applied by a

Because of all these uncertainties surrounding subject matter eligibility, you must have some claims to account for variability in the way that Section 101 will be applied by a judicial body. The main risk is that your broad independent claims will be construed as an “abstract idea” that is not patent-eligible.

How much did LG infringe on LG patent?

In April 2019, a jury found that LG had willfully infringed only two of the three surviving claims of the patent, and awarded Mondis $45 million in damages.

What is the requirement for an invention to be granted a patent?

the invention, must: be new; have an inventive step that is not obvious to someone with knowledge and experience in the subject; be capable of being made or used in some kind of industry. the invention must not be:

What is a patent application?

A patent application is a descriptive document (often including diagrams) that contains concise written statements that define the invention covered by the patent application. Most would argue that patent protection fosters technological, economic and social advancement. According to the UK Intellectual Property Office, ...

How long do you have to publish before filing a patent?

The standard advice is first patent; then publish. For protection in the United States inventors have one year to file a patent application after the first public disclosure.

How long does an Australian patent last?

An Australian standard patent lasts for up to 20 years; An innovation patent only lasts for up to 8 years; Pharmaceutical patents can last up to 25 years. Inventors are required to pay annual maintenance fees on their patent/patent application.

What is a patent?

A patent protects new inventions and covers how things work, what they do, how they do it, what they are made of and how they are made. It gives the owner the right to prevent others from making, using, importing or selling the invention without permission. A patent is legally enforceable.

Why do we need to do a prior art search?

A prior art search helps to determine whether or not it is worthwhile filing for a patent. Prior art that shows something is similar to your invention may restrict your ability to have your invention patented. In order for you to obtain a patent, your invention must be new and involve an inventive or innovative step.

What is prior art?

Prior art is any evidence that an invention was already publicly known or available (in whole or in part) before the effective filing date of a patent application. The most common reason a patent office will give for rejecting claims in a patent application is prior art. Discovery of prior art shows an invention is not “new” ...

How long does a utility patent last?

Maintenance fees are required to maintain a patent in force beyond 4, 8, and 12 years after the issue date for utility and reissue utility patents. If the maintenance fee and any applicable surcharge are not paid in a timely manner, the patent will expire.

What type of protection do you need for an invention?

Determine the type of Intellectual Property protection that you need. To protect your invention, you may need a patent, trademark, copyright, marketing plan, trade secrets, or some combination of these. Before you begin preparing a patent application, find out if you really need a patent or some other form of Intellectual Property protection.

What happens if my USPTO application is incomplete?

If your application is incomplete, you will be notified of the deficiencies by an official letter from the USPTO, known as an Office Action. You will be given a time period to complete the application filing (a surcharge may be required). If the omission is not corrected within a specified time period, the application will be returned or otherwise disposed of; the filing fee if submitted will be refunded less a handling fee as set forth in the fee schedule. Learn more about responding to Office Actions.

What is a patent grant?

The patent grant is mailed on the issue date of the patent. It includes any references to prior patents, the inventor (s)') names, specification, and claims (to name a few). It is bound in an attractive cover and includes a gold seal and red ribbon on the cover.

When was the America Invents Act enacted?

Due to the enactment of the America Invents Act on September 16, 2011, the USPTO created this page containing forms for patent applications filed on or after September 16...

Who can get a utility patent?

Utility patents may be granted to anyone who invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, article of manufacture, or compositions of matters, or any new useful improvement thereof. By far, most patent applications filed at the USPTO are utility applications.

Can a patent be obtained by a person who is not skilled in this work?

While a patent may be obtained in many cases by persons not skilled in this work, there would be no assurance that the patent obtained would adequately protect the particular invention. Most inventors employ the services of registered patent attorneys or patent agents. Additional info on Attorneys and Agents.

Who has the right to patent an invention?

The first person or enterprise to file a patent for an invention will have the right to the patent. This may in fact mean that, if you do not patent your inventions or inventions made the employees of your company, somebody else – who may have developed the same or an equivalent invention later – may do so.

What is an invention patent?

Patents may be granted for inventions in any field of technology, from an everyday kitchen utensil to a nanotechnology chip. An invention can be a product – such as a chemical compound, or a process, for example – or a process for producing a specific chemical compound. Many products in fact contain a number of inventions.

What is patent protection?

In other words, patent protection means that the invention cannot be commercially made, used, distributed, imported, or sold by others without the patent owner's consent.

What is patent exclusive rights?

In general, the exclusive rights are only applicable in the country or region in which a patent has been filed and granted, in accordance with the law of that country or region.

How do I get a patent?

To get a patent, technical information about the invention must be disclosed to the public in a patent application. The patent owner may give permission to, or license, other parties to use the invention on mutually agreed terms. The owner may also sell the right to the invention to someone else, who will then become the new owner of the patent.

What is patent in science?

What is a patent? A patent is an exclusive right granted for an invention. In other words, a patent is an exclusive right to a product or a process that generally provides a new way of doing something, or offers a new technical solution to a problem. To get a patent, technical information about the invention must be disclosed to ...

What are some examples of inventions that have been patented?

Patented inventions have, in fact, pervaded every aspect of human life, from electric lighting (patents held by Edison and Swan) and plastic (patents held by Baekeland), to ballpoint pens (pat ents held by Biro), and microprocessors (patents held by Intel , for example). Patents provide incentives to and protection for individuals by offering them ...

The Unpredictability of Patent Claim Challenges

Image
Challenges to patent claims typically fall into one of three broad categories: 1) prior art, 2) subject matter eligibility, and 3) clarity or support. But as we’ll explain below, the specific nature of each challenge is always a bit of a moving target, which is why you need multiple claims to account for any uncertainties.
See more on henry.law

Why Having Lots of Claims Matters: LG v. Mondiscase Study

  • The recent case of LG v. Mondisillustrates why having lots of claims can prove advantageous during litigation.
See more on henry.law

Best Practices For Drafting Multiple Claims

  • By drafting a matrix of claims with diverse language and scope, you can help ensure that some claims will survive even if others fall — ensuring that anyone who tries to use your technology will end up navigating a legal minefield instead. To achieve this, your patent application should include: 1. A mixture of broad claims, narrow claims, as well as varying levels of breadth in betw…
See more on henry.law

So How Many Claims Should I Draft in My Patent application?

  • While we generally advocate for crafting lots of diverse claims in your patent applications, the specific number of claims will ultimately depend on the invention you’re patenting and your available resources. For advice on your specific situation, please contact a qualified patent professional. At Henry Patent Law Firm, we’re always eager to hear from leading tech innovators…
See more on henry.law

1.WHAT IS PRIOR ART? - Henry Patent Law Firm

Url:https://henry.law/blog/what-is-prior-art/

3 hours ago In simpler terms: Prior art is any evidence that your invention was already publicly known or available, in whole or in part, before the effective filing date of your patent application. Click to see full answer. Hereof, what is the effective filing date of a patent?

2.HOW MANY CLAIMS SHOULD MY PATENT HAVE?

Url:https://henry.law/blog/how-many-claims-should-my-patent-have/

21 hours ago  · Prior art is any evidence that an invention was already publicly known or available (in whole or in part) before the effective filing date of a patent application. The most common reason a patent office will give for rejecting claims in a patent application is prior art. Discovery of prior art shows an invention is not “new” or “non-obvious”.

3.Getting started - Course guide: Patents - Library guides at …

Url:https://libguides.library.qut.edu.au/patents

33 hours ago  · In layman’s terms, “Prior art is any evidence that your invention was already publicly known or available, in whole or in part, before the effective filing date of your patent application,” writes...

4.China Is Taking Patents Seriously. The World Should …

Url:https://thediplomat.com/2019/12/china-is-taking-patents-seriously-the-world-should-take-notice/

19 hours ago Prior art is any evidence that your invention was already publicly known or available, in whole or in part, before the effective filing date of your patent application. The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will not issue a patent when the claimed invention exists in the "prior art" in some form or fashion.

5.Patent process overview | USPTO

Url:https://www.uspto.gov/patents/basics/patent-process-overview

32 hours ago Utility patents may be granted to anyone who invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, article of manufacture, or compositions of matters, or any new useful improvement thereof. By far, most patent applications filed at the USPTO are utility applications. Applying for a Utility Patent. Maintaining your Utility Patent.

6.PRIOR ART SEARCH FOR PATENT USING FREE DATABASES

Url:https://ppdn.upm.edu.my/upload/dokumen/20201116220830Patent_Prior_Art_Search.pdf

19 hours ago …any evidence that your invention was already publicly known or available, in whole or in part, before the effective filing date of your patent application. INTRODUCTION “Common examples…. 1. A product that was available for sale 2. Commercial use of the invention 3. Articles, publications, or journals (printed or electronic) 4.

7.Frequently Asked Questions: Patents - WIPO

Url:https://www.wipo.int/patents/en/faq_patents.html

28 hours ago In general, any invention which is made public before an application is filed would be considered “prior art ” (although the definition of the term “prior art” is not uniform at the international level, in many countries, it refers to any information which has been made available to the public anywhere in the world by written or oral disclosure before the filing date).

8.Is it acceptable to copy-paste the 'Prior Art' from another …

Url:https://www.quora.com/Is-it-acceptable-to-copy-paste-the-Prior-Art-from-another-patent-in-a-provisional-patent-application

17 hours ago Prior art is any evidence that your invention was already publicly known or available, in whole or in part, before the effective filing date of your patent application. This might be any published material, references to patents or technical publications, existing devices, or any of the descriptions within the fore matter of your patent.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9