Patent Terms Glossary

Representative

Definition:
One who stands for or acts on behalf of another. A patent attorney or patent agent may represent the inventors named in a patent application.

Disclosure Document

Definition:
A document disclosing an invention, and signed by the inventor or inventors, that is forwarded to the USPTO only as evidence of the date of conception of the invention.

FDC

Definition:
Final Data Capture - Once the fee, any correspondence, and/or drawings are matched with the application and all requirements have been met for issuance as a patent.

Joint Inventor

Definition:
An inventor who is named with at least one other inventor in a patent application, wherein each inventor contributes to the conception of the invention set forth in at least one claim in a patent application.

Provisional Patent Application

Definition:
A provisional application for patent is a U. S. national application for patent filed in the USPTO under 35 U.S.C. § 111(b). It allows filing without a formal patent claim, oath or declaration, or any information disclosure (prior art) statement.

National Stage Application

Definition:
An application which has entered the national phase of the Patent Cooperation Treaty by the fulfillment of certain requirements in a national Office, which is an authority entrusted with the granting of national or regional patents.

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