Glossary

MPEP

Manual of Patent Examining Procedure, the USPTO's examiner manual and the only reference allowed on the patent bar.

Patent bar

The USPTO's Examination for Registration to Practice in Patent Cases.

AIA

The Leahy-Smith America Invents Act of 2011, which moved the U.S. to first-inventor-to-file.

Prior art

Earlier patents, publications and public disclosures used to judge whether an invention is new and nonobvious.

Patent prosecution

Preparing, filing and arguing a patent application before the USPTO until it is granted or abandoned.

USPTO

The United States Patent and Trademark Office.