Abstract ¶
A brief summary of an invention contained on the front page of a patent document.
Alerts, SDI, Patent Watch ¶
A process of monitoring on a periodic basis newly issued patent documents for a given technology or status of an existing patent application/granted patent document. SDIs - Selective Dissemination of Information - are generally set up on a given system and periodically sent to users on a weekly or a monthly basis. The term may also apply to non-patent literature update searches, also known as current awareness searches or alerts.
Application for a Patent ¶
To obtain a patent, an application must be filed with the authorised body (see Patent Office) with all the necessary documents and fees. The patent office will conduct an examination to decide whether to grant or reject the application. Until it is granted, the patent application does not provide any protection of the invention. When the application is published, it becomes part of the prior art.
In the United States, the application must include a disclosure of the invention that would, without undue experimentation, enable a person of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention; at least one claim; drawings (if drawings are necessary to understand the invention); and disclosure of what the inventor views as the best mode for practicing the invention. The claims of the application define the invention and the scope of the coverage sought. The written description and enabling disclosure are typically found in the specification portion of the application. The specification is the narrative portion of the application, along with the drawings, if present. The specification includes the description of the preferred embodiments or best mode of practicing the invention. It may include a summary of the invention; a description of the background of the invention, including prior art or the problem dealt with by the invention; and a description of the drawings. The specification may also include an abstract of the disclosure.
Assignee ¶
Company or individual to which a patent right is assigned (name of the patent holder).
ARIPO Agreement ¶
Agreement of the African Regional Industrial Property Organisation. ARIPO is a central filing system comprised of members of sixteen (16) African States. The member states are: Botswana, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Swaziland, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The implementing organisation is called ARIPO.
Applicant, Assignee ¶
Company or individual applying for a patent. The person filing the patent application. In the US, patent applications are always filed in the name of the actual inventors, who may then assign their rights to, for example, their employer. In other countries, the "assignee" and the "applicant" are the same.
Agent (Patent) ¶
Has the ability under the law to legally represent an inventor or applicant when dealing with a patent office.