Patent Terms Glossary

Patent Pending

Definition:
A phrase that often appears on manufactured items. It means that someone has applied for a patent on an invention that is contained in the manufactured item.

Deceased Inventor

Definition:
A named inventor who has died prior to the filing of a patent application or during the prosecution of a patent application.

Group Art Unit

Definition:
A working unit responsible for a cluster of related patent art. Staffed by one supervisory patent examiner (SPE) and a number of patent examiners who determine patentability on applications for a patent.

IPEA

Definition:
International Preliminary Examining Authority - either a national Office or an intergovernmental organization whose tasks include the establishment of examination reports on inventions.

Status

Definition:
The legal standing of a patent or patent application, i.e. whether it is pending, lapsed or still protected etc.

Pro Se

Definition:
Used to designate an independent inventor who has elected to file an application by themselves without the services of a licensed representative.

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