PATENT ACT

REPORT 2019

By: Shruti Poptani

 Patent Act Report 2019
HISTORY

Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution allows Congress to enact patent laws.
Patent laws were most recently revised on November 29, 1999, with the
passage of the American Inventors Protection Act.

Expire: Expires on the later of either 17 years from the grant date or 20 years
from the first effective filing date. Design patents expire 14 years from the
patent grant date.
 Patent Act Report 2019

WHAT IT IS PATENT?
A patent is a grant of property rights to an invention. In the United States, this is done through the U.S. Patent and
Trademark Office.

HOW IT WORKS/EXAMPLE:
A patent prevents others from using, making or selling a specific invention within the U.S. Use of the term “patent
pending” and “patent applied for” is intended to inform the general public that the inventor has filed a patent application
on the item.
TYPES OF PATENTS Patent Act Report 2019

1 UTILITY PATENTS 2 PLANT PATENTS 3 DESIGN PATENTS

discovers a "new and
useful" process, article of
manufacture, composition
of matter, machine, or
improvement upon these
things may be eligible for
a utility patent.
Plant patents are awarded
to anyone who invents or
discovers and asexually
reproduces a "distinct and
new variety of plant."
Design patents generally
go to anyone who invents
a "new, original, and
ornamental design for an
article of manufacture."

Note: Inventions related to the use of "special nuclear material or atomic

energy in an atomic weapon" are not eligible for patents.
PROCESS FOR PATENT Patent Act Report 2019

Provisional or Non-Provisional application for a patent with description and drawing of the invention.

• U.S. Patent and Trademark Office then provides the inventor with an application number and
official filing date.
• After 18 months, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office publishes the patent application.

Application is sent to a patent examiner who specializes in the invention's area of technology.
 Patent Act Report 2019

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