{"id":5016,"date":"2016-04-04T10:47:53","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:47:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/smallbusiness\/intellectual-property\/patents-glossary.html"},"modified":"2024-05-22T03:07:53","modified_gmt":"2024-05-22T08:07:53","slug":"patents-glossary","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/intellectual-property\/patents-glossary.html","title":{"rendered":"Patents Glossary"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Patents Glossary<\/h1>\n
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\n By Taylar-Simone McCants, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Amber Sheppard, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

It’s important to protect the things you create. Whether you are a small business owner<\/a>, nonprofit organization<\/a>, or individual inventor, understanding patent-related terms is essential for navigating the complex world of intellectual property (IP). Below is an alphabetical list of definitions of patent-related words and phrases. FindLaw’s Patents<\/a> section has in-depth articles and resources.<\/p>\r\n

Abandonment:<\/b> A patent application may become abandoned for failure to file a complete and proper reply as required under existing patent laws and regulations. Abandonment may be either of the invention or an application.<\/p>\r\n

Agent:<\/b> One who is not an attorney but may act for or in place of a patent applicant(s) before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office<\/a> (USPTO).<\/p>\r\n

Applicant:<\/b> Inventor or joint inventors who are applying for a patent on their own invention or the person who may apply for a patent in place of the inventor.<\/p>\r\n

Assignee:<\/b> The entity to which patent rights transfer, often through an assignment agreement.<\/p>\r\n

Assignment:<\/b> A transfer of ownership of a patent application or patent from one entity to another. All assignments<\/a> should be recorded with the USPTO Assignment Services Division to maintain clear title to pending patent applications and patents.<\/p>\r\n

BPAIIS: <\/b>This stands for the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences Information System. The BPAIIS is an electronic database and information system used by the USPTO. This system manages and provides access to documents related to patent appeals and interferences.<\/p>\r\n

Canceled Claim:<\/b> A patent claim that is canceled or deleted. "Canceled" is the status identifier used when an application cancels a claim.<\/p>\r\n

Certificate of Mailing:<\/b> A certificate for each piece of correspondence mailed before the set period for response expires, <\/i>stating the date of deposit with the U.S. Postal Service and including a signature.<\/p>\r\n

Certificate of Transmission:<\/b> An electronic certificate for each response or correspondence sent to the USPTO through their e-filing system.<\/p>\r\n

Claims:<\/b> Patent claims define the invention and determine the legally enforceable aspects. The specification must conclude with a claim pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter the patent applicant regards as their invention or discovery. The claim or claims must conform to the invention as outlined in the rest of the specification, and the terms and phrases used in the claims must find clear support or antecedent basis in the description so that the meaning of the terms in the claims may be ascertainable by reference to the description.<\/p>\r\n

Clearance Search:<\/b> A search done by a patent attorney or patent agent prior to filing a patent application to make sure there are no issued patents in conflict.<\/p>\r\n

Co-Inventor:<\/b> An inventor named with at least one other inventor in a patent application, wherein each inventor contributes to the conception and creation of the invention outlined in at least one claim in a patent application.<\/p>\r\n

Combination Patent:<\/b> A patent granted for an invention that unites existing components in a novel way.<\/p>\r\n

Common Inventor:<\/b> An inventor whose name is on many patent applications or granted patents, making the inventions at least partially the work of the same person.<\/p>\r\n

Concept:<\/b> An idea or design.<\/p>\r\n

Continuation-in-Part:<\/b> A patent application that combines new material with already disclosed subject matter.<\/p>\r\n

Counterpart:<\/b> An application filed in a foreign patent office that is substantially like the patent application filed with the USPTO and based upon some or all the same invention. The two applications generally have the same applicant.<\/p>\r\n

Declaration:<\/b> A document in which an applicant for a patent declares, under penalty of fine, imprisonment, or both, their country of citizenship and that:<\/p>\r\n