PATENT ACT

Patent Act.The current federal statute governing patent registrations and rights, enacted in 1952. 35 USCA §§ 1 et seq. • The Act reversed several Supreme Court doctrines of patentability by eliminating the synergism and “flash of genius” requirements for combination patents (§ 103), making “means-plus-function” claims valid once again (§ 112), and narrowing the patent-misuse doctrine of contributory infringement (§ 271). — Also termed Patent Act of 1952.

[Blacks Law 8th]