Changes to Patentability Rules under America's New First-to-File Patent System

摘要

On September 19,2011, the U.S. Congress passed the Smith-Leahy America Invents Act (AIA). This law will have a profound effect on America's technological future—and at least some effect on most of the readers of this magazine. This article discusses what is probably the most widespread effect of the new law: the redefinition of prior art and actions that bar the patentability of a claimed new invention.