WHAT EVERY PLASTICS PROFESSIONAL SHOULD KNOW ABOUT PATENTS AND PATENTING PART 1: AN OVERVIEW OF PATENTS AND THE ROLE OF CLAIMS IN DEFINING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS GRANTED IN UTILITY PATENTS

摘要

In this article, the legal right to exclude others, granted in a patent, and the commercial significance of patent protection are discussed as they relate to plastic materials, processes, processing equipment and products. Also, presented are subject matters that may be patented and who may apply for a patent. The article also deals with the requirements that every patent application must meet in order to be allowed. The anatomy of a typical patent and the role of the claims(s) in defining intellectual property rights are also discussed.