Title 35: Patents
Patent law including patentability, patent examination, infringement, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, and the America Invents Act.
38 chapters · 187 sections · 4 key sections available
Key Sections (4)
Inventions Patentable
Patents can be obtained for new and useful inventions — processes, machines, manufactured items, or compositions of matter. Laws of nature and abstract ideas cannot be patented.
Conditions for Patentability — Novelty
An invention must be novel to be patented — it cannot have been previously patented, published, or publicly available. The U.S. uses a first-inventor-to-file system.
Infringement of Patent
Anyone who makes, uses, sells, or imports a patented invention without permission infringes the patent. This includes those who actively help others infringe or sell components made specifically for infringing use.
Specification — Written Description and Enablement
A patent application must describe the invention clearly enough that someone skilled in the field could reproduce it. The claims at the end define exactly what the patent covers.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.