What is the purpose of a Joint Research Agreement (JRA) in patent law?
A Joint Research Agreement (JRA) in patent law serves to facilitate collaboration between different entities in research and development. The main purpose of a JRA, as defined in MPEP 2156, is to disqualify certain prior art that would otherwise be available under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(e).
Specifically, the MPEP states:
“The joint research agreement provisions of 35 U.S.C. 102(c) provide a mechanism for disqualifying certain prior art that would otherwise be available under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(e).”
This allows inventors from different organizations to collaborate without risking their own work being used as prior art against each other’s patent applications.
To learn more:
Topics:
MPEP 2100 - Patentability,
MPEP 2156 - Joint Research Agreements,
Patent Law,
Patent Procedure