Notes form 3/11/2011: Difference between revisions

From Bill Goodwine's Wiki
Jump to navigationJump to search
Created page with "Claims: *most important part of a patent *define boundaries of property right <br/> Interpreting the claims for 2 reasons #with respect to the prior art to determine validity #w..."
 
No edit summary
 
Line 1: Line 1:
Claims: *most important part of a patent  
Claims:  
*most important part of a patent  
*define boundaries of property right <br/>
*define boundaries of property right <br/>
Interpreting the claims for 2 reasons
Interpreting the claims for 2 reasons
Line 6: Line 7:
Term used, does the claim "read on" the prior art or possibly infringing device?<br/>
Term used, does the claim "read on" the prior art or possibly infringing device?<br/>
A claim <b>reads on</b> something if <u>everything</u> (elements and relationship among them) appears in that thing. It <u>does not</u> matter if other things are present in the other thing.
A claim <b>reads on</b> something if <u>everything</u> (elements and relationship among them) appears in that thing. It <u>does not</u> matter if other things are present in the other thing.
=====Example=====
=====Example 1=====
I claim a chair comprising
I claim a chair comprising
*a seat
*a seat
Line 15: Line 16:
*chair with seat, back, and legs where the seat is removable
*chair with seat, back, and legs where the seat is removable
<u>Comprising</u>: something is made up of a list of things, but could include other things
<u>Comprising</u>: something is made up of a list of things, but could include other things
Not infringing:
*a stool with legs and a seat, but no back
=====Example 2=====
I claim a stool comprising
*seat
*legs attached to the seat
All chairs infringe on the stool patent.<br/>
No stools infringe the chair patent.<br/>
If the stool were patented first, the improved stool with back (which is a chair) would be patentable. The chair patent owner could not make, use, or sell chairs without the permission (license) of the stool patent owner.<br/>
Correspondingly
*the stool patent owner can <u>not</u> add backs to the stools without the permission of the chair patent holder
*limited testing by each side is allowed
*result: incentive to (cross-)license

Latest revision as of 17:14, 11 March 2011

Claims:

  • most important part of a patent
  • define boundaries of property right

Interpreting the claims for 2 reasons

  1. with respect to the prior art to determine validity
  2. with respect to some possibly infringing thing

Term used, does the claim "read on" the prior art or possibly infringing device?
A claim reads on something if everything (elements and relationship among them) appears in that thing. It does not matter if other things are present in the other thing.

Example 1

I claim a chair comprising

  • a seat
  • a back attached to the seat
  • legs attached to the seat.

Infringing:

  • chair that has a seat, a back, legs, plus armrests
  • chair with seat, back, and legs where the seat is removable

Comprising: something is made up of a list of things, but could include other things Not infringing:

  • a stool with legs and a seat, but no back
Example 2

I claim a stool comprising

  • seat
  • legs attached to the seat

All chairs infringe on the stool patent.
No stools infringe the chair patent.
If the stool were patented first, the improved stool with back (which is a chair) would be patentable. The chair patent owner could not make, use, or sell chairs without the permission (license) of the stool patent owner.
Correspondingly

  • the stool patent owner can not add backs to the stools without the permission of the chair patent holder
  • limited testing by each side is allowed
  • result: incentive to (cross-)license