Legal Definitions - disposal

Definition: In the context of patents, disposal refers to the termination of a patent application by withdrawal, rejection, or grant. In some countries, disposal only refers to rejection.

Example: If a patent application is withdrawn by the applicant before it is granted or rejected, it is considered disposal.

Explanation: This means that the applicant has decided to no longer pursue the patent and has withdrawn their application. This is one way in which a patent application can be disposed of.

Example: If a patent application is rejected by the patent office, it is considered disposal.

Explanation: This means that the patent office has reviewed the application and determined that it does not meet the requirements for a patent. The application is then disposed of and the applicant may choose to appeal the decision or abandon the patent altogether.