Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Filing date: The date when a document is delivered to the appropriate authority. In the case of patents, it is the date when a patent application is filed. This date is important because it closes the door on prior art, sets the priority date for public use, disclosure, or sale, and establishes the date of constructive reduction to practice. For trademarks, it is the date when a trademark application is filed. For corporations, it can refer to the date when shareholder dividends or distributions become payable, the date on which stock dividends or interest checks are paid to shareholders, or the date on which a stockholder must own shares to be entitled to vote or receive a dividend.
Definition: The date when a document is delivered to the appropriate authority, such as a patent application or trademark application.
These examples illustrate how the filing date is the starting point for important legal processes, such as obtaining a patent or trademark. It is crucial to file documents in a timely manner to ensure that the filing date is as early as possible, which can provide advantages in legal proceedings.