Patent Terms Glossary
USPTO
Definition:
United States Patent and Trademark Office, designation became effective April 3, 2000; a result of the American Inventors Protection Act of 1999.
ACH
Definition:
Automated Clearing House - a nationwide batch-oriented electronic funds transfer system governed by the NACHA (National Automated Clearing House Association)
Deceased Inventor
Definition:
A named inventor who has died prior to the filing of a patent application or during the prosecution of a patent application.
Patent
Definition:
A patent is a document that defines the right by law for inventors and assignees to make use of and exploit their inventions for a limited period of time.
File Wrapper
Definition:
The folder into which papers for a particular application are collected and maintained. It contains a complete record of proceedings in the USPTO from the filing of the initial patent application to the issued patent.
Serial Number
Definition:
A number assigned to a patent application when it is filed. A serial number is usually used together with a two digit series code to distinguish between applications filed at different times.
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There is a time limit on patent protection.
For applications filed on or after June 8, 1995, utility and plant patents are granted for a term which begins with the date of the grant and usually ends 20 years from the date you first applied for the patent subject to the payment of appropriate maintenance fees. Design patents last 14 years from the date you are granted the patent. Note: Patents in force on June 8 and patents issued thereafter on applications filed prior to June 8, 1995 automatically have a term that is the greater of the twenty year term discussed above or seventeen years from the patent grant.
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Contact our Patent Professionals to ensure you complete the
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