When is a declaration under 37 CFR 1.130(a) not available?

A declaration under 37 CFR 1.130(a) is not available in the following situations: If the disclosure was made more than one year before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. When the disclosure is a U.S. patent or U.S. patent application publication that claims an invention substantially the same as the applicant’s, and the…

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What is the significance of the grace period in evaluating declarations under 37 CFR 1.130(b)?

What is the significance of the grace period in evaluating declarations under 37 CFR 1.130(b)? The grace period is crucial when evaluating declarations under 37 CFR 1.130(b). As explained in MPEP 717.01(b)(1): “If the declaration provides sufficient evidence that the publicly disclosed subject matter was publicly disclosed by the inventor or a joint inventor or…

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What is the ‘grace period inventor’s disclosure’ exception under AIA?

What is the ‘grace period inventor’s disclosure’ exception under AIA? The ‘grace period inventor’s disclosure’ exception is a key provision under the America Invents Act (AIA) that protects inventors from their own disclosures. According to MPEP 717: AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1)(A) provides exceptions to the prior art provisions of AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1). These exceptions…

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What is the significance of the effective filing date in AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) exceptions?

What is the significance of the effective filing date in AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) exceptions? The effective filing date plays a crucial role in determining the applicability of the AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) exception. According to MPEP 717.02(c): “Even if the reference is not disqualified as prior art under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C), the reference…

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What is the ‘shielding effect’ in AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1)(B) and how does it work?

What is the ‘shielding effect’ in AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1)(B) and how does it work? The ‘shielding effect’ in AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1)(B) is a powerful protection for inventors who publicly disclose their invention before filing a patent application. According to MPEP 717: “AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1)(B) provides that a disclosure which would otherwise qualify…

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