Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Colorable alteration: A small change made to a product or process to make it different from an existing patent or copyright, without actually making any real or significant changes. This is done to avoid being accused of copying someone else's work.
Definition: A colorable alteration is a modification made to an invention or work that does not result in any significant change but is only made to differentiate it from an existing patent or copyright. It is a small change made to a product or process to avoid infringing on an earlier patent's claim.
Example: Let's say a company has a patent for a red bicycle with a bell. Another company wants to create a similar bicycle but with a blue color and a horn instead of a bell. This modification is a colorable alteration because it does not result in any significant change to the bicycle's function or design, but it is made to avoid infringing on the existing patent.
Another example: A company has a patent for a smartphone with a rectangular shape and a touch screen. Another company wants to create a similar smartphone but with a circular shape and a physical keyboard instead of a touch screen. This modification is not a colorable alteration because it results in a significant change to the smartphone's design and function.
The examples illustrate the definition of colorable alteration by showing how a modification can be made to avoid infringing on an existing patent or copyright without making any significant changes to the product or process.