Does the enablement inquiry apply to “on sale” determinations under AIA?

No, the enablement inquiry does not apply to “on sale” determinations under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1). This interpretation is consistent with pre-AIA law. The MPEP states: “[T]he enablement inquiry is not applicable to the question of whether a claimed invention is ‘on sale’ under pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b).” Since the AIA’s “on sale” provision is…

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What is the difference between 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) and 102(a)(2) rejections?

What is the difference between 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) and 102(a)(2) rejections? The main differences between 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) and 102(a)(2) rejections are: 102(a)(1) applies to prior art that was publicly available before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. This includes patents, printed publications, public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public.…

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How does the AIA’s “on sale” provision differ from pre-AIA law?

While the AIA’s “on sale” provision is largely interpreted similarly to pre-AIA law, there are some key differences. The MPEP highlights two main distinctions: Geographic limitations: “Under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1), there is no geographic limitation on where the sale or offer for sale may occur.” This contrasts with pre-AIA law, which limited “on sale”…

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