IACInventors Assistance Center (formerly Patent Assistance Center). 1-800-786-9199
IBInternational Bureau - the secretariat of the WIPO which, among other functions, centralizes information of various kinds relating to the protection of…
ICInternational Class - class(es) assigned to a mark under the International Classification of Goods and Services (Nice Agreement); used in the United…
IDshort for "ibid", meaning same as previously cited
IDCInitial Data Capture Initial Data Capture (IDC) is the first phase of the publication process for a patent where the patent file is electronically…
identification of goods and/or servicesa written statement of the goods and/or services included in an application. Every application must include an identification of goods and/or services.
IFWImage File Wrapper -- an electronic version of a patent application, including image and/or text versions of the bibliographic information, all papers as…
IGInspector General - 57 statutory OIGs were created by an act of Congress in 1978 to independently detect fraud or instances of waste, abuse or misuse of…
Improvement PatentA patent claiming an invention that is an improvement or modification of an invention claimed in a prior patent.
incontestability-- see Section 15 Declaration of Incontestability
Incorporation by ReferenceTo supplement the the disclosure of a patent application by making a specific statement in the application that other material is to be considered to be…
Indefinite ClaimA claim that fails to particulary point out the claimed invention. MPEP 706.03(d), MPEP 2171, MPEP 2173.
IndefinitenessThe opposite of definiteness. See Definiteness.
indefiniteness of claimSection 112 of the Patent Statute requires that the claims be sufficiently definite so as to provide a standard by which a third party could, with some…
Indemnity from SuitA situation in which one party has agreed to sue another party, e.g., for patent infringement.
independent claima claim that does not refer back to or depend on another claim.
informal applicationan application that has been filed without one or more of the elements required to receive a filing date.
Information Disclosure Statement (IDS)a list of all patents, publications, U.S. applications, or other information submitted for consideration by the Office in a non-provisional patent…
infrastructureAn basic underlying framework or features of a system.
InfringeTo make, use or sell a patented invention in the jurisdiction and during the term of a patent.
Infringed LiterallyA situation wherein an issued patent is infringed (practiced without a license to do so) by a product or process that has all of features of the invention…
Infringement By EquivalentsInfringement in the situation that the infringing product or process does not have exactly the same features as the invention claimed in the patent but…
InherencyPresent in the essential character of something. MPEP 2173.05(v).
InjunctionAn order or remedy issued by the court at the request of the complaining party, which forbids another party to do some act which he/she is threatening or…
inoperativenessThe failure of the invention to work due to either mechanical or methodical imperfections or due to incomplete or erroneous description of the invention…
Intellectual PropertyCreations of the mind - creative works or ideas embodied in a form that can be shared or can enable others to recreate, emulate, or manufacture them.
intent to useITU - refers to the intent-to-use filing basis provided for in Trademark Act Section 1(b), 15 U.S.C. 1051(b).
inter partes reexamination-- see reexamination proceeding Inter partes reexamination practice primarily differs from ex parte practice in that the third party requestor may file…
interferencea proceeding, conducted before the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences (Board), to determine priority of invention between a pending application and…
Intervening RightsA defense to an allegation of infringement. Intervening rights exist when a patent is later reissued with broader claims because of inadvertent errors in…
InvalidIneffective or void under the law. A patent can be invalided if it was issued in error.
invalidationshowing that an invention is not deserving of patent protection by providing evidence that it is not new, not useful, or is obvious.
inventionany art or process (way of doing or making things), machine, manufacture, design, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, or…
Invention DisclosureFrom a legal standpoint, a description of an invention that would enable a person skilled in the art to which the invention pertains to build and use the…
inventorone who contributes to the conception of an invention. The patent law of the United States of America requires that the applicant in a patent application…
Inventor, JointA person who collaborates with another inventor in the conception of an invention. MPEP 605.07, MPEP 2137.01.
InventorshipThe condition of being an inventor under the law. MPEP 2137.01.
IPWithin the peritoneal cavity (the area that contains the abdominal organs). Also called intraperitoneal.
IPEAInternational Preliminary Examining Authority - either a national Office or an intergovernmental organization whose tasks include the establishment of…
IPERInternational Preliminary Examination Report (Form PCT/IPEA/409), produced by an International Preliminary Examining Authority, is a preliminary and…
ipr hygieneIntellectual Property Rights Hygiene is the process of ensuring that all sponsors of research that results in intellectual property protection and…
IRBA group of scientists, doctors, clergy, and consumers that reviews and approves the action plan for every clinical trial.
ISRInternational Search Report (Form PCT/ISA/210), produced by an International Searching Authority, is a report listing citations of published documents…
IssueWhen a corporation offers a stock or bond for sale, or a government offers a bond, the security is known as an issue, and the company or government is the…
issue datethe date that a patent application becomes a US patent. The issue date is the date that patent rights can be exercised. U.S.
Issue FeeThe fee paid by an applicant a patent office prior to the granting of a patent. MPEP 1306.