This was a really fun class today. I learned a lot of terms and definitions by playing Jeopardy. MAN it was competitive. Got to meet and play with some of the classmates. Awesomeness in my book and would like to learn like this every time I have a mid-term. Questions were fun and people almost got knocked over getting to the board. Here are three definitions I learned today.
Double Patenting- basically states the invention has two claims. It’s not allowed under Patent laws, and both patents can later be validated. If double patenting results from a divisional application required by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office because of the USPTO’s misperception that the two inventions were being described in the original patent application, under a special statute this rule does not apply and the patents will be considered valid.
Abandonment of Patent Application- the USPTO considers a patent application abandoned if the applicant fails to respond in a timely manner to actions or requests initiated by the USPTO. The USPTOS response to most applications is to send the applicant a notice –called an office action- rejecting one or more aspects of the patent application. The applicant must then amend the application, usually the claims, which are precise descriptions of the inventions or provide a suitable response to the USPTO within three months time.
Blocking Patent- When Patents have claims that overlap each other in a manner that the invention claimed in one patent cannot be used or sold without infringing the claims of the other patent and vice versa, each patent is referred to as a blocking patent.
There was much to learn the last four weeks in class and I think there will be much more the next few weeks to go. I look forward to it greatly!
