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Explanation of Patent Terms
Some of the more frequently used patent terms are briefly described below. It is important to understand the various patent terms as to avoid confusion when it comes to meeting requirements for patentability.
Abandon
It is one of the patent terms used to describe when one deliberately chooses not to exploit the patent rights obtained or to relinquish the rights to the invention.
Assignee
It is the person or entity that obtains the rights to a patent by means of a legal agreement from the original owner of the patent.
Claim
The applicant makes a claim to invention rights by means of providing a definition in the form of a specification. The claim must be specific to the invention and not contain prior art.
Design Patent
It is when monopoly rights are awarded based on the shape characteristics of the invention.
Disclosure
The word refers to publicly disclosing information about an invention. It can be done on purpose or because of ignorance about the consequences.
Drawing
It consists of one of more figures which accompany the patent application as to provide a visual explanation of the description of the invention. Drawings are normally found with electrical, engineering, and mechanical inventions. The chemical inventions normally include formula drawings.
Patent Pending
The phrase is often found on goods and is used to indicate that the provisional patent filing has been done and that the final patent rights have not been awarded yet.
Prior Art
The term refers to any information publicly disclosed in any format about the invention before the filing date of the patent application. It can be in the form of an article, interview, broadcast or illustration.
WIPO
It stands for the World Intellectual Property Organisation, which is an agency of the United Nations, concerned with the promotion and regulation of intellectual property rights amongst member states.
Contact us at Smit & Van Wyk for assistance regarding patent applications and agreements.
Our lawyers will also be able to explain the patent terms in detail. |
