Patent Dictionary

A

Abandonment
When a patent application is no longer pursued, often due to failure to respond to an office action or non-payment of fees. It can sometimes be revived under certain conditions.

Allowance
A formal indication from a patent office that an application has been found allowable. The applicant must pay an issue fee for the patent to be granted.

Art Unit
A classification group within a patent office (such as the USPTO) where examiners review applications in specific technical fields.

B

Broken Lines
Lines in a design patent drawing that indicate features not claimed. Only the solid lines represent the protected design.

C

Claim
The legal definition of the invention. Claims specify the scope of protection granted by a patent and can be independent or dependent.

Computer-Implemented Invention (CII)
An invention that is at least partially carried out by a computer, often involving method and system claims, particularly in software patents.

Continuation Application
A later application based on the same specification as an earlier one, allowing the applicant to pursue different or broader claims.

Continuation-in-Part (CIP)
A patent application that includes the content of an earlier application and adds new subject matter, allowing expansion of protection.

D

Design Patent (US)
A form of patent in the U.S. that protects the ornamental design of a functional item. It does not protect the item’s function or internal workings.

Divisional Application
A new application filed from an existing one when a patent office requires the original application to be split into separate inventions.

E

Examination Report / Office Action
A communication from the patent office that raises objections, rejections, or other issues with the application. A response is required to continue prosecution.

F

Freedom to Operate (FTO)
An assessment of whether a product or process is likely to infringe existing patents. FTO opinions are common before product launches.

H

Hague System
An international system managed by WIPO that allows applicants to register industrial designs in multiple countries with a single application.

I

Information Disclosure Statement (IDS)
A submission to the USPTO that lists prior art known to the applicant that may be relevant to the examination of a U.S. patent application.

Inventive Step / Non-obviousness
A patentability requirement stating that the invention must not be an obvious variation of existing technology to a person skilled in the art.

L

Locarno Classification
An international system for classifying industrial designs into categories for examination and indexing purposes.

M

Method Claim
A type of patent claim that protects a specific process or series of steps performed by a user, device, or system. Common in software and medical technologies.

N

Non-Provisional Application
A formal U.S. patent application that includes claims and is examined for patentability. It can lead to a granted utility patent.

Novelty
A requirement for patentability meaning the invention must be new—i.e., not previously disclosed to the public before the priority date.

O

Office Action
An official letter from the examiner during the prosecution of a patent application, stating rejections or objections. The applicant must respond to keep the application active.

Ornamental Design
The visual, aesthetic aspect of a product that is protected by a design patent. It must be non-functional.

P

Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
An international treaty that allows inventors to file a single international patent application and seek protection in over 150 countries.

Patent Family
A group of related patent applications or granted patents that share the same priority date and cover similar subject matter.

Patent Prosecution
The process of interacting with the patent office to secure the grant of a patent, including responding to office actions and amending claims.

Patentability
The criteria an invention must meet to be granted a patent, including novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability.

Priority Date
The date from which the novelty of an invention is assessed. Often established by the earliest filed application in a patent family.

Prior Art
All publicly available knowledge before the filing date that may affect the novelty or obviousness of a claimed invention. Includes patents, publications, and publicly used products.

Provisional Application
A temporary U.S. filing that allows inventors to secure a priority date for up to 12 months before filing a formal non-provisional application.

Publication
Patent applications are typically published 18 months after the earliest priority date, making the invention publicly accessible.

R

Registered Community Design (RCD)
A European Union-wide design right that protects the appearance of a product, granted by the EUIPO for up to 25 years.

S

Specification
The part of the patent application that describes the invention in detail. It supports the claims and includes the background, summary, and embodiments.

Surface Shading
Used in design patent drawings to show depth and contours of the object. It helps clarify the visual aspects of the claimed design.

System Claim
A type of patent claim that protects a group of physical or logical components that operate together to perform a function. Often used in computing and telecommunications.