Interference

Defined in 6 dictionaries — Case Law, U.S. Code, Cyclopedic (1922), Ballentine's (1916), Bouvier (1914), Black's (1910)

Definitions from Case Law

From 244 U.S. 1 - Thomas Ewing v. United States Ex Rel the Fowler Car Company · 1917Most cited · 28 citing opinions

An interference [is] a proceeding instituted for the purpose of determining the question of priority of invention between two or more parties claiming the same patentable invention.

United States Code

49 U.S.C. § 44742 — in this section (2 versions over time)

In this section, the term “interference” means—

(A) blatant or egregious statements or behavior, such as harassment, beratement, or threats, that a reasonable person would conclude was intended to improperly influence or prejudice an ODA unit member’s performance of his or her duties; or

(B) the presence of non-ODA unit duties or activities that conflict with the performance of authorized functions by ODA unit members.

The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary

Walter A. Shumaker and George Foster Longsdorf; ed. James C. Cahill · 1922

The state of things which exists when a person applies for a patent which, if granted, would cover any of the patentable ground occupied by any existing patent, or by any patent for which an application is then pending. An investigation is ordered by the commissioner of patents, for the purpose of determining which of the parties was the first to make the invention, or that portion of it from which the interference results. When the controversy is between two applications, a patent wiU be finally granted to him who is shown to be the first inventor, and will be denied to the other applicant so far as the point thus controverted is concerned. But if the interference is between an application on the one hand and an actual patent on the other, as there is no ' power in the patent office to cancel the existing patent, all that can be done is to grant or withhold from the applicant the patent he asks. If the patent is granted to him, there will be two patents for the same thing. The two parties will stand upon a footing of equality, and must settle their rights by a resort to the courts, in the manner provided by the act of congress. In interference-cases, each party is allowed to take the testimony of witnesses in accordance with rules established by the patent ofiice. See Act July 4, 1836, §§ 8, 16. INTERIM (Lat.) In the meantime; meanwhile. An assignee ad interim, is one appointed between the time of bankruptcy and appointment of the regular assignee. 2 Bell, Conun. 355.

Ballentine's Law Dictionary

James A. Ballentine · 1916

A claim of a right to the same invention by a party other than the patentee or applicant for a patent. See 68 Fed. (U. S.) 354.

Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia

John Bouvier; revised by Francis Rawle · 1914

See Patents. INTERIM (Lat). In the mean time; meanwhile. An assignee ad interim is one appointed between the time of bankruptcy and appointment of the regular assignee. 2 Bell, Com. 355.

Black's Law Dictionary

Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910

In patent law, this term designates a collision between rights claimed or granted; that is, where a person claims a patent for the whole or any integral part of the ground already covered by an existing patent or by a pending application. Milton v. Kingsley, 7 App. D. C. 540; De-derick v. Fox (C. Ct) 56 Fed. 717; Nathan Mfg. Co. v. Craig (O. C.) 49 Fed. 370. Strictly speaking, an "interference" is declared to exist by the patent office whenever it is decided by the properly constituted authority in that bureau that two pending applications (or a patent and a pending application), in their claims or essence, cover the same discovery or invention, so as to render necessary an investigation into the question of priority of invention between the two applications or the application and the patent, as the case may be. Lowrey v. Co.wles Electric Smelting, etc., Co. (C. C.) 68 Fed. 372. '