A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A (...previous)

Amendments An amendment is a response to an office action by the USPTO and is the means for changing portions of a patent application. However, no new matter may be added through amendment.

Another Someone other than the inventor or inventors listed on a patent application.

Appeal Appeals are taken to the USPTO Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences (BPAI) for patents or to the TTAB for trademarks and are similar to appeals in a court of law. Through an appeal, an applicant is asking a higher authority than the examiner to overturn the examiner's rejection.

Appeal brief When an appeal is filed, the applicant will be required within two months to file brief that argues why the claims of their application should be allowed.

Appellant The applicant who is appealing the rejection of the claims of an application by an examiner.

Applicant The person or persons who file a patent or trademark application. In the U.S., they must also be the inventors.

Application An application has a specification (written description), drawing figures, an abstract and for non-provisional applications, claims (which actually are what the invention is).

Art A field of technology in which patents are awarded. Broadly, there are mechanical, chemical, electrical (including electronic devices, computers and software), biotechnological and business method arts.

Assignee The receiver of a transfer of rights to a patent or trademark or applications for same. Change of ownership of patents and trademarks takes place by an assignment which should then be recorded (just like the sale of a house or car).

Assignment Patents may be bought and sold just like any other personal or real property, and require a recordable paper transfer just like real estate or cars.