dedication to the public
Defined in 1 dictionary — Case Law
Definitions from Case Law
From 326 U.S. 249 - Scott Paper Co. v. Marcalus Manufacturing Co. · 1945Most cited · 559 citing opinions
the patent laws dedicate to all the public the ideas and inventions embodied in an expired patent. They do not contemplate that anyone by contract or any form of private arrangement may withhold from the public the use of an invention for which the public has paid by its grant of a monopoly and which has been appropriated to the use of all. The rights in the invention are then no longer subject to private barter, sale, or waiver.