35 U.S.C. § 100: Definitions

The term “invention” means invention or discovery. The term “process” means process, art or method, and includes a new use of a known process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, or material. The terms “United States” and “this country” mean the United States of America, its territories and possessions. The word “patentee” includes not only the patentee to whom the patent was issued but also the successors in title to the patentee. The term “third-party requester” means a person requesting ex parte reexamination under section 302 who is not the patent owner. The term “inventor” means the individual or, if a joint invention, the individuals collectively who invented or discovered the subject matter of the invention. The terms “joint inventor” and “coinventor” mean any 1 of the individuals who invented or discovered the subject matter of a joint invention. The term “joint research agreement” means a written contract, grant, or cooperative agreement entered into by 2 or more persons or entities for the performance of experimental, developmental, or research work in the field of the claimed invention. if subparagraph (B) does not apply, the actual filing date of the patent or the application for the patent containing a claim to the invention; or the filing date of the earliest application for which the patent or application is entitled, as to such invention, to a right of priority under section 119, 365(a), 365(b), 386(a), or 386(b) or to the benefit of an earlier filing date under section 120, 121, 365(c), or 386(c). The effective filing date for a claimed invention in an application for reissue or reissued patent shall be determined by deeming the claim to the invention to have been contained in the patent for which reissue was sought. The term “claimed invention” means the subject matter defined by a claim in a patent or an application for a patent. the date that is 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act [ Dec. 18, 2012 ]; or the date of entry into force of the treaty with respect to the United States [ May 13, 2015 ]. Subject to paragraph (2), the amendments made by this title shall apply only to international design applications, international applications, and national applications filed on and after the effective date set forth in subsection (a), and patents issuing thereon. Sections 100(i) and 102(d) of title 35, United States Code, as amended by this title, shall not apply to an application, or any patent issuing thereon, unless it is described in section 3(n)(1) of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act [ Pub. L. 112–29 ] ( 35 U.S.C. 100 note). the terms ‘treaty’ and ‘international design application’ have the meanings given those terms in section 381 of title 35 , United States Code, as added by this title; the term ‘international application’ has the meaning given that term in section 351(c) of title 35 , United States Code; and the term ‘national application’ means ‘national application’ within the meaning of chapter 38 of title 35, United States Code, as added by this title.” a claim to a claimed invention that has an effective filing date as defined in section 100(i) of title 35 , United States Code, that is on or after the effective date described in this paragraph; or a specific reference under section 120, 121, or 365(c) of title 35, United States Code, to any patent or application that contains or contained at any time such a claim. a claim to an invention having an effective filing date as defined in section 100(i) of title 35 , United States Code, that occurs before the effective date set forth in paragraph (1) of this subsection; or a specific reference under section 120, 121, or 365(c) of title 35, United States Code, to any patent or application that contains or contained at any time such a claim.”