Patent Terms Glossary

IPEA

Definition:
International Preliminary Examining Authority - either a national Office or an intergovernmental organization whose tasks include the establishment of examination reports on inventions.

Non-final Office Action (rejection)

Definition:
An Office action letter that raises new issues and usually is the first phase of the examination process. An examining attorney will issue a non-final Office action after reviewing the application for the first time.

Term of patent

Definition:
The maximum number of years that the monopoly rights conferred by the grant of a patent may last.

Group Art Unit

Definition:
A working unit responsible for a cluster of related patent art. Staffed by one supervisory patent examiner (SPE) and a number of patent examiners who determine patentability on applications for a patent.

Abandonment

Definition:
A patent application becomes abandoned for failure to file a complete and proper reply as the condition of the application may require within the time period.

Examination Copy

Definition:
A copy of an international application filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty maintained by the International Preliminary Examining Authority.

Bookmark:           
Permalink:  http://S-0.ORG/tSStZ5L

Contact our Patent Professionals to ensure you complete the patent filing process correctly or for violation of your patent rights.