The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued its final rules governing derivation proceedings. The new patent proceedings are designed to ensure that a person will not be able to obtain a patent for an invention that he or she did not actually invent under the new first-inventor-to-file system.

Under the rules, if a dispute arises as to which of two applicants is a true inventor (as opposed to who invented it first), it will be resolved through a derivation proceeding conducted by the USPTO’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board. The petition must state with particularity the basis for finding that a named inventor in the earlier application derived the claimed invention without authorization. The petition must also be filed within one year
of the publication of the earlier application.

The rules also allow the parties to resolve disputes outside of the USPTO. For example, the rules provide that the parties to a derivation proceeding may terminate the proceeding by filing a written statement reflecting the agreement of the parties as to the correct inventors of the claimed invention in dispute. Parties may also elect to resolve the dispute through arbitration, although an arbitration award does not preclude the USPTO from determining the patentability of the claimed inventions involved in the proceeding.

How Can I Help?

If you need help to protect your valuable invention, or know someone that can use my help, please contact me for a free 30 minute consultation at nvantreeck@usip.com or call TOLL FREE at 1-855-UR IDEAS (1-855-874-3327) and ask for Norman.

– Ex astris, scientia –

I am and avid amateur astronomer and intellectual property attorney. As a former Chief Petty Officer in the U.S. Navy, I am a proud member of the Armed Service Committee of the Los Angeles County Bar Association working to aid all active duty and veterans in our communities. Connect with me on Google +

Norman