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FREEDOM TO OPERATE


patent claims which, when viewed in light of the specification, define the lawful scope of the patented invention.


Patent territory A patent claim can be compared to a deed to real property which, by metes and bounds, describes and defines the limits of the property owner compared to those of his or her neighbour. Tis enables one to understand when trespassing on this property occurs. Much like such a deed, a patent claim defines


the limits of the invention as well as what does not fall within the scope of the patented invention. Tis enables one to understand when infringement of the claim occurs. Patents are by their nature territorial, and their


scope is limited to the country within which they have been granted. For example, if someone is granted a US patent, the protection afforded by this patent will be effective only within the territorial limits of the US, not in any other country. Te patent laws of different countries will vary, so that an underlying patent application in one country may be granted where the patent office of another country may limit or refuse to grant a patent for the same application. It is essential to note the difference between a


patentability opinion and a patent FTO opinion. Te patentability opinion does not normally concern itself with whether the subject invention will infringe the patent rights of others. It is limited to whether there is a likelihood that the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will grant a patent covering the invention. Te FTO opinion, on the other hand, is very


much wrapped up with the issue of infringement. A patentability search may uncover one or more patents whose claims may cover the subject invention, but the analysis will normally be limited to whether a patent will issue. A seasoned patent practitioner will, of course, notice the relationship between the patent claims uncovered during a patentability search and the subject invention, and will call this to the attention of the client.


One will want to avoid unnecessary liability


and future litigation by obtaining a patent FTO opinion. An FTO analysis can be performed well before fully developing and commercially launching a product. In fact, enormous wasted tooling costs can be avoided by conducting an FTO search and analysis that is directed to a proposed product design, rather than waiting until it has been tooled. Such an analysis that is done fairly early on


during product development may provide an opportunity to modify or change the direction of a design, to avoid infringement. If the developer does not take advantage of this type


www.worldipreview.com World Intellectual Property Review Annual 2015 69


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