Legal Definitions - patent-prosecution process

Definition: The patent-prosecution process refers to the process of applying for a patent through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and negotiating with the patent examiner.

For example, if a company invents a new product, they may want to apply for a patent to protect their invention from being copied by competitors. The company would need to go through the patent-prosecution process, which involves submitting a patent application and working with a patent examiner to ensure that their invention meets the requirements for patentability.

The patent-prosecution process can be complex and time-consuming, but it is an important step for inventors and companies who want to protect their intellectual property.