Simple English definitions for legal terms
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An effective filing date is the date when a patent application is considered to have been filed. This date is important because it determines the priority of the invention and closes the door on prior art. It also sets the clock for the period of eligibility to file in other countries and establishes the date of constructive reduction to practice. The child application is usually entitled to the filing date of the parent application to prove priority under the doctrine of continuity.
Definition: The date that a patent application is considered to have been filed. This date is important because it determines the priority of the invention and the eligibility to file in other countries. It is also the date that closes the door on prior art and establishes the date of constructive reduction to practice.
These examples illustrate how the effective filing date is important in determining the priority of an invention and the eligibility to file in other countries. It also shows how the effective filing date can be the same as the parent filing date for continuing applications.