Article
Plugging the Two-Claim Double-Patenting Loophole
Journal of the Patent and Trademark Office Society
(2021)
Abstract
Much of the antitrust critique of patents rests on “double-patenting.” “Evergreening” is extending a patent past its normal term, twenty years from filing, by patenting a quite similar invention. This paper shows there is no justification for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s practice of forcing patent examiners to search for extra references before issuing obviousness double-patenting rejections by examining the history of 35 U.S.C. 101 and double-patenting doctrine.
Keywords
- double-patenting,
- evergreening,
- obviousness,
- 1790 Patent Act,
- 1793 Patent Act,
- 1836 Patent Act,
- 35 U.S.C. § 101,
- Joseph Story,
- Odiorne,
- Amesbury Nail Factory,
- R.S. 4886,
- patents,
- patent claims
Disciplines
Publication Date
Summer June, 2021
Publisher Statement
Submitted to JPTOS Summer 2019.
Citation Information
Mark R. Carter. "Plugging the Two-Claim Double-Patenting Loophole" Journal of the Patent and Trademark Office Society Vol. 101 Iss. No. 3 (2021) p. 400 - 418 ISSN: 0882-9098 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/mark_r_carter_jd_phd/8/