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Guest Post by Profs. Masur & Ouellette: Public Use Without the Public Using

Patently-O

What is it that makes a usepublic” for purposes of the public use bar? Does it matter whether the person doing the using is a member of the public, as opposed to the inventor? Or does it matter whether the use is itself in public, as opposed to taking place in secret behind closed doors?

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Public-Use Bar: What Startups Need to Know

IP Watchdog

However, fewer startups are aware of the public-use bar and how activities pursued with the goal of growing their businesses may unwittingly invoke it.

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Federal Circuit Narrows AIA Grace Period: Public Disclosure Must Make Invention ‘Reasonably Available’

Patently-O

The basic holding is that the 102(a)(2)/(b)(2) safe harbor triggered by an inventor’s pre-filing “public disclosure” of the invention requires that the invention be made “reasonably available to the public.” ” Neither public uses nor private sales satisfy this requirement.

Invention 111
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How Does One “Use” Flowers?

Patently-O

Here, the Federal Circuit has affirmed that the claims are invalid based upon a pre-filing trade-show display of the ornamental plant — holding that the display counted as a “public use.” ” The inventors here used conventional plant breeding to create a new form of petunia (Calibrachoa).

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Under Lock And Key – Private Sales May Not Qualify As Public Disclosure

JD Supra Law

Recently, the Federal Circuit affirmed a PTAB decision finding that a private sale of a product did not constitute a public disclosure by the inventor of the product. 102(a)(1) provides, in part, that a person is not entitled to a patent if the claimed invention was in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the.

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Patent Law Canons and Canards: Bonito Boats

Patently-O

And, once a patent expires (or is refused or forfeited by public use), the balance allows “free access to copy whatever the federal patent and copyright laws leave in the public domain.” ” Compco Corp. Day–Brite Lighting, Inc. , Metallizing Engineering Co. Kenyon Bearing & Auto Parts Co., 2d 516 (2nd Cir.

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Functional Medical Device Demonstrated at Trade Show Trigged On Sale Bar of pre-AIA 102(b)

LexBlog IP

9,186,208 on surgical devices for a procedure called endometrial ablation were anticipated under the public use bar of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. § The Federal Circuit then pointed out that at the time of the public use, the technology was “ready for patenting.” § 102(b).