DOMINATION

domination.Patents. The  effect that an earlier patent (usu. a basic one) has  on a later patent

(esp. one for improvements on the patented device) because the earlier patent’s claims are so broad

or generic that the later patent’s invention will always read on the earlier patent’s claims, resulting

in infringement. • Because the patent system is based on exclusion of others from an invention’s

subject matter, the earlier, basic patent’s claims “dominate” the later-invented improvement. If the

improvement  is  patented  and  worked,  it infringes  the  basic  patent.  But the  basic patent’s  owner

cannot  practice  the  improvement  without  infringing  on  the  improvement’s  patent.  This  standoff

effect encourages improvement- and basic-patentees to seek licenses or cross-licenses with  each

other. See blocking patent under PATENT(3). [Blacks Law 8th]