In patent law, ‘prior art’ encompasses any public information relevant to a patent’s originality claims, including existing patents, published applications, academic research, product descriptions, and public demonstrations. This concept is pivotal in assessing an invention’s novelty and non-obviousness, criteria essential for patentability. Patent examiners scrutinize prior art to ensure inventions are truly innovative, with those lacking novelty or deemed obvious potentially being denied patent protection.
What is Prior Art in Patent Law?
