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To understand a patent, it is essential to be able to read a patent.  \nHow to Read Patents: Front Page  \nFront pages of patents are packed with useful information. But if you do not knowhow to read a patent, the front page can also be very confusing. This is what you need to know to get started:  \nPatent Number (1)  \nEach patent is assigned a unique sequentially generated number that is used to identify the patent (see “( 1)” on the example patent) . Patent attorneys often refer to a patent by the last three digits of the patent number. For instance, the example patent might be referred to as “the ‘593 patent.”  \nInventor(s) (3) and (5)  \nEach patent has at least one inventor who is a person not a company. The last  \nname of the first listed inventor is indicated at (3) . Patent attorneys also refer to patents by the inventor name listed at (3) . The example patent might be referred to as “the Burns patent.” All of the inventors in a patent are listed at (5) along with their city, state (if applicable), and country of residence.  \nIn the case of multiple inventors, each inventor is free to commercialize the invention and license the patent without the approval of the other inventors, unless the inventor has executed an agreement to the contrary. If an applicant does not accurately provide all of the actual inventors, and the applicant does so with deceptive intent, the patent may be found to be invalid and unenforceable. It is also possible for an inventor who has been left off of a patent to sue and be added to the patent after the patent has issued.  \nTitle (4)  \nThe title indicates the subject matter of the patent. Although they are usually descriptive, titles of patents are sometimes misleading. For example, a title may be“AUTOMOBILE” and you may scratch your head and wonder how a patent could cover something as old and as broad as an automobile. But in fact the patent covers a much narrower concept, such as a self-driving car. Therefore, don’t judge a patent based only on the title.  \nAssignee  \nThe assignment section (not shown on the example patent) is important because it provides an indication that someone other than the inventor(s) holds rights in the patent. Rights to a patent will often be assigned (transferred) by the inventors to another person or entity before the patent issues. Most employers require their employees to assign any inventions they make within the scope of their  \nemployment to the employer. However, assignee data on the face of the patent may be inaccurate for a number of reasons. Therefore, if ownership is an issue, it is important to perform an assignment search to help determine the status of ownership rights in the patent.  \nApplication Number (7)  \nWhen a patent application is filed with the Patent Office, the application is assigned a unique application number (7), which is sometimes called the application serial number. This number is used to identify the application while it is pending in the Patent Office. The application number is sometimes useful in searching for related patents and pending applications and for looking up the file history of the patent.  \nFiling Date (8)  \nThe filing date (8) is one of th","cbCaijGG06FqiOMF","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaijGG06FqiOMF","pdf",597092,17,"English","# How to Read a Patent\n## Patent Number and Naming Conventions\n## Inventors and Assignee Rights\n## Title and Practical Scope\n## Application Number, Filing Date, and Enforceability\n## Related U.S. Application Data and Priority Date\n## Classification, Field of Search, and References Cited","[{\"question\":\"Why is it important for non-patent attorneys to learn how to read patents?\",\"answer\":\"It helps non-patent attorneys avoid problems, make better decisions, and communicate more effectively with patent counsel, even though detailed analysis should be handled by a patent attorney.\"},{\"question\":\"What information does the patent number provide and how is it commonly referenced?\",\"answer\":\"Each patent has a unique sequentially generated patent number. Patent attorneys often refer to a patent by the last three digits of that number.\"},{\"question\":\"How does the filing date affect a patent’s enforceability and reference value?\",\"answer\":\"The filing date is one of the most important pieces of information because it helps determine how long the patent will be enforceable. It can also be used to determine which references can be used for patentability and, in some circumstances, the date the patent is effective as a reference against other applications.\"}]","How to Read a Patent - A Patent Reading Guide | PDF",43]