Patent Terms Glossary

Informal Application

Definition:
An application that has been filed without one or more of the elements required to receive a filing date. The USPTO will return informal applications to applicants.

PCT

Definition:
Patent Cooperation Treaty - provides a mechanism by which an applicant can file a single application that, when certain requirements have been fulfilled, is equivalent to a regular national filing in each designated Contracting State.

Invention

Definition:
Any art or process (way of doing or making things), machine, manufacture, design, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, or any variety of plant, which is or may be patentable.

Term of patent

Definition:
The maximum number of years that the monopoly rights conferred by the grant of a patent may last.

IC

Definition:
International Class - class(es) assigned to a mark under the International Classification of Goods and Services (Nice Agreement); used in the United States since 1 September 1973

Counterpart

Definition:
An application filed in a foreign patent office that is substantially similar to (like) the patent application filed with the USPTO and is based upon some or all of the same invention.

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