Srividya Raghavan
Jan 25, 2013
The contest is about invalidating claims 36 and 37 of US6,705,794. This granted patent seeks priority from another US application filed on Jan 26, 2000. Hence prior art before Jan 26, 2000 could be used to invalidate US6,705,794 and not before Jan 26, 1999. Please clarify.
2 Comments
Daniel PorterJan 25, 2013
Thanks for your question, Srividya. The earlier date is because of what's known as the one year "grace period." From 35 USC 102:
Daniel PorterJan 25, 2013
"(b) the invention was patented or described in a printed publication in this or a foreign country or in public use or on sale in this country, more than one year prior to the date of application for patent in the United States."