Patent Terms Glossary

Restriction

Definition:
If two or more independent and distinct inventions are claimed in a single application, the examiner may require the applicant to elect (designate) a single invention to which the claims will be restricted.

Claims

Definition:
The specification must conclude with a claim particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention or discovery.

Contracting Party

Definition:
A country or intergovernmental organization that is a member of the Madrid Protocol.

Filing Date

Definition:
The date of receipt in the Office of an application which includes (1) a specification containing a description and, if the application is a nonprovisional application, at least one claim, and (2) any required drawings.

Pending

Definition:
The period in which the patent office has not yet decided whether to reject or to grant a patent application, and it has not yet been withdrawn

First to file

Definition:
The applicant who is the first to file an application for an invention will be awarded the patent over all others.

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