This is the second 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, and the proposed requirements for invoking the “grace period inventor disclosure” exception to prior art. Here, I look at the proposed requirements for invoking what the USPTO refers to as the “grace period non-inventor disclosure” exception to prior art. Continue reading this entry
