Patently-O

FEBRUARY 26, 2023

What is it that makes a use “public” 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?

Public Use 90

Public Use Inventor Invention Art 90

IP Tech Blog

FEBRUARY 9, 2022

the Supreme Court held that an inventor’s sale of an invention to a third party who is obligated to keep the invention confidential can create an on-sale bar under AIA §102(a). In its 2018 decision in Helsinn Healthcare S.A. Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. , 35 U.S.C. § 102(b) (pre-AIA). 35 U.S.C. § 102(a)(1) (AIA)(emphasis added).

Invention 57

Invention Confidentiality Public Use Patent 57

The IP Law Blog

FEBRUARY 16, 2023

This month the Federal Circuit decided a case involving whether the display of a flowering plant constitutes an invalidating prior public use. Wingen LLC (“Wingen”) applied for a reissue of its utility patent for a Calibrachoa plant, called Cherry Star, which is similar to a petunia. For example, in Motionless Keyboard Co.

Public Use 98

Public Use Patent Invention Confidentiality 98