Patents Flashcards
what is a patent
exclusive right in an industrial invention that is granted upon request
what are some examples of inventions
penicillin, lego bricks, post it stickers
what are the 3 requirements of a patent
novelty
inventive
industrial applicable
what is the inventive step
must provided a new way of doing something
how long is a patent protection
20 years
why should things be patented
- provides incentive for technological innovation
- reward for innovative work
- protection in exchange for disclosure of invention - want to develop them
what governs patents on an international level
WIPO
- Paris convention
- patent cooperation treaty
- TRIPS
what governs patens on a regional level (europe)
- strasbourg patent convention
- european patent convention
- UPC package
what is the requirement of novelty in a patent application
subject matter is not new if it belongs to the state of the art
what does state of the art mean
everything that is made publicly available (decided by whether person skilled in the art can carry out the invention on the basis of the instructions made available)
what are 4 things that kill novelty
- publications in foreign languages
- earlier, not yet published patent applications
- talks, presentations, product proofs
- demonstration to visitors
what is the only exemption to the novelty rule
demonstrations at official or officially recognised international exhibitions are classed as new because of temporary protection granted under Article 11 Paris convention
what is national treatment
It mandates that each contracting state must grant the same protection to nationals of other contracting states as it grants to its own nationals.
what is the right of priority
WHAT?= This means that if an applicant files for protection in one member country, they can file in other member countries within these specified periods and have their application considered as if it were filed on the same day as the first application.
HOW LONG = priority period of 12 months for patents and industrial designs, 6 months for trademarks.
what is the inventive element of a patent application
it must not be obvious to a person skilled in the art
what is a person skilled in the art
- has standard knowledge
- knows the specific relevant state of the art
- has working experience In the relevant field of technology
what is the industrial application element of a patent application
if it can be made or used in any kind of industry, including agriculture.
what does the TRIPS article 27 exclude from patentability
- diagnostic, therapeutic, and surgical methods for the treatment of humans or animals.
- allows countries to exclude plants and animals (except microorganisms) from being patented.
- allows countries to not grant patents for inventions that could harm public safety, health, or the environment. This means if an invention poses a risk to society or nature, it can be excluded from patent protection.
what is the Article 3 of the EU directive 98/44/ EC
Directive on the Legal Protection of Biotechnological Inventions
- biotechnological inventions can still be patented even if they contain biological material
- it clarifies that you cannot patent the human body or its parts just by discovering them, but you can patent a gene or part of a gene if it’s been technically isolated or produced and has a clear use in industry
what does article 29(1) TRIPS state about the application file of a patent
must disclose the invention in a manner sufficiently clear and complete for the invention to be carried out by a person skilled in the art.