This is the fourth article in my First-To-File Friday series. On each Friday in August, I am publishing an article that takes an in-depth look at one of the prior art exceptions of the first-to-file version of 35 USC § 102 which will apply to certain patent applications filed on or after March 16, 2013.
The USPTO has issued its proposed rules and proposed examination guidelines for implementing the first-to-file provisions of the America Invents Act (AIA), and will consider written comments received by October 5, 2012. In previous articles I have provided overviews of the proposed rules, the proposed examination guidelines, the proposed requirements for invoking the “grace period inventor disclosure” exception to prior art, the proposed requirements for invoking the “grace period non-inventor disclosure” exception to prior art, the proposed requirements for invoking the “grace period shielding disclosure” exception to prior art, and the expanded prior art exception for commonly owned patent applications. Here, I look at the proposed rule that could require an applicant to initiate a derivation proceeding.Continue reading this entry
. In previous articles I have provided overviews of the 
