What is the Prior Art Exception under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(B)?
The Prior Art Exception under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(B) provides an exception to prior art under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2). This exception applies to subject matter that was effectively filed by another after the subject matter had been publicly disclosed by the inventor, a joint inventor, or someone who obtained the subject matter directly or indirectly from the inventor or joint inventor.
As stated in the MPEP, “AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(B) provides that a disclosure which would otherwise qualify as prior art under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) (a U.S. patent, U.S. patent application publication, or WIPO published application (“U.S. patent document”)) is excepted as prior art if the subject matter disclosed had been previously publicly disclosed by the inventor, a joint inventor, or another who obtained the subject matter directly or indirectly from the inventor or joint inventor.“
This exception is important because it prevents others from claiming priority over an inventor’s own public disclosure, even if they file a patent application after the inventor’s disclosure but before the inventor’s patent application.
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