Avoiding bars to patentability

摘要

Establishing that your invention qualifies for a patent is a critical step you take before spending the time and money necessary to prepare a patent application. A previous column reviewed five requirements from the US Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) that your invention must meet before the PTO will consider your patent application. These requirements are subject matter, novelty, nonob-viousness, utility, and enablement and best mode ("Qualifying for a patent," EDN, Aug 5, 1999, pg 44).