In 2013, the U.S. adopted the ‘First Inventor to File’ system from the ‘First to Invent system’ under the American Patent Law. Both phrases are self-explanatory. The former emphasizes on the inventor; whereas, the later put the date of filing of an application first. This passage bears significant importance. Moreover, it stresses upon the factors on how to deal with the First Inventor to File patent system.
Patent Systems: First Inventor to File Vs First-to-Invent
Before proceeding further into the patent system metamorphosis, let’s understand wherein the major difference lies between two systems. For this, we need to know three basic components of the patent law. They are as follows:
Date of Conception
The conception term means: when the concept or idea came to the mind of the inventor.
Date of Actual Reduction to Practice
This deals with the construction of a tangible form of the conception which can display the efficacy of the invention.
Date of Constructive Reduction to Practice
This includes the filing of a patent application by the inventor.
First-to-Invent
The ‘First-to-Invent’ system may sound easy but it is quite an expensive procedure. An inventor if cautiously derives or creates a tangible form of the concept, and files a patent application then he/she gains the privilege of gaining a patent. However, the inventor has to abide by other rules and regulations. Two individual inventors may file an application for the same invention. To determine the rightful owner of the patent, the Board of Appeals and Interferences at the USPTO interferes. The person gets the ownership, who has filed application first rather than who conceived the idea first. The ‘First-Inventor-to-File’ system assures that the inventor who has filed the patent application initially be the rightful owner. The aforementioned system ignores the conception date.
First-Inventor-to-File
The ‘First-Inventor-to-File’ system doesn’t guarantee that the first person to file an application will be the rightful owner. The Office takes previously filed applications or disclosures into consideration before granting of a patent under this system. A helpful part of this system is that it doesn’t take “secret prior-arts” into consideration. A secret prior-art is an invention which nobody has filed patent application for. Thus, ‘First-Inventor-to-File’ system adds more advantage.
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First Inventor to File: How to Deal
Let us understand how one can deal smoothly with this patent system transition. First of all, get a clear understanding of the ‘First-Inventor-to-File’ system. Accordingly, you need to construct and execute your patent strategy. A good patent attorney or a patent agent can sail you through this pathway effectively.
Filing Date
The first-inventor-to-file rules will be used for applications with an effective filing date of March 16, 2013, or later. The term to be understood is “effective”. 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 the earliest application for which the patent or application is entitled, as to such invention, to a right of priority or the benefit of an earlier filing date under 35 U.S.C. 119, 120, 121, 365, or 386. The effective filing date provides some judicious opportunities for start-ups as well as large business organizations and companies.
Be swift while assigning your corpus to inventions. As a for-profit entity, you must be quick enough to target the propitious invention and go ahead for their protection.
Priority Date
Do not neglect the value of a provisional patent application. It ensures that you get a fixed “priority-date” and that your invention obtains an initial protection. The method is quite pocket-friendly and leaves options of international filing too. However, provisional patent applications have its shortfalls too. Once you file a provisional application, it’s mandatory to file a Complete Specification containing Claims within one year. The USPTO abandons the application if you don’t file a non-provisional application within a year. A provisional patent application will be advantageous in a ‘First-Inventor-to-File’ system if utilized properly.
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