FAQs Patent Questions

Question:What is the difference between patents and exclusivity?

Answer:
Patents and exclusivity work in a similar fashion but are distinctly different from one another. Patents are granted by the patent and trademark office anywhere along the development lifeline of a drug and can encompass a wide range of claims. Exclusivity is exclusive marketing rights granted by the FDA upon approval of a drug and can run concurrently with a patent or not. Exclusivity is a statutory provision and is granted to an NDA applicant if statutory requirements are met.

Question:A patent is considered personal property and may be sold, mortgaged and may pass on to the heirs of a deceased patentee.

Answer:
A patent is personal property and may be sold to others or mortgaged; it may be bequeathed by a will; and it may pass to the heirs of a deceased patentee. The patent law provides for the transfer or sale of a patent, or of an application for patent, by an instrument in writing.

Question:How often is the USPTO database updated?

Answer:
The database is normally updated every Tuesday, the day patents are issued. Exceptions may occur for Federal holidays and when problems arise with data availability.

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