3 ms·
FTA: > The bill generally updates the process for challenging patents and would change the patent system to one that awards a patent to the first inventor to f
by ggchappell 15y ago
FTA:
> The bill generally updates the process for challenging patents and would change the patent system to one that awards a patent to the first inventor to file a specific claim.
> Currently, the first person to invent something has patent priority, whether or not he is the first to file an application.
That sounds to me as if they are eliminating, or at least weakening, the idea of prior art preventing the award of a patent. Scary.
Of course, this was written by a journalist, not a patent expert, so who knows what the real situation is. But it's still scary.
- monochromatic 15y agoPrior art is still prior art. What this particular element changes is basically the situation where two people independently come up with the same idea, and they both file for patents. (I'm leaving out some irrelevant complications, but) under current law, whoever came up with the idea first wins, even if the later inventor files first. Under this new law, whoever filed first would win, even if he had the idea later. It's to save the trouble of having to litigate about when you had an idea, what proof you have of that fact, etc. But it doesn't change the fact that you can't patent an idea that you stole from someone else.
- ggchappell 15y agoWell, that's good. Thanks for the clarification.