Who gets the patent? USPTO issues final rules on first-to-file system

Description

Abstract: This article takes a look at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s long-awaited final rules and examination guidelines on the first-inventor-to-file provisions of the America Invents Act. Many of the regulations, which took effect in March, are similar to the earlier proposed regulations — but some significant amendments have been made. A sidebar explains how U.S. patents and patent applications can reach back to a foreign priority date in certain circumstances.