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MIAMI A
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LSDefine
Simple English definitions for legal terms
blocking patent
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A quick definition of blocking patent:
A blocking patent is a type of patent that prevents someone from making, using, or selling an invention because it infringes on another patent. It is one of two patents that cannot be practiced without infringing on the other. For example, if someone patents an improvement on someone else's invention, they cannot use the improvement without infringing on the original patent. The purpose of a patent is to grant the inventor the right to exclude others from using their invention for a certain period of time.A more thorough explanation:
A blocking patent is a type of patent that prevents another patent from being effectively practiced without infringing on the blocking patent. This means that if two patents are blocking patents, neither can be used without infringing on the other. Owners of blocking patents often cross-license each other.
For example, if A patents an improvement of B's patented invention, A cannot practice the improvement without infringing B's patent. Nor can B use the improvement without infringing A's patent.
Blocking patents are important in the field of intellectual property because they can limit the ability of inventors to profit from their inventions. They can also lead to legal disputes between patent holders.