Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Term: INOPERATIVE
Definition: Inoperative means something is not working or does not have any effect. For example, a law that is inoperative is not being enforced or followed. Inventions can also be inoperative if they don't work as described in the patent application. This means that the invention doesn't do what it's supposed to do, even if it's built exactly as described in the patent.
Definition: Inoperative is an adjective that describes something that has no force or effect, and is not operative. For example, an inoperative statute is a law that is not being enforced or followed.
In the context of patents, inoperative refers to the condition of an invention that is not capable of functioning as described in the patent application. An invention is considered inoperative if an exemplification, built exactly as described in the patent, won't operate, or if further experiment and invention are required to make it operate.
Example: The company's new product was found to be inoperative during testing, as it did not perform as described in the patent application.
Explanation: This example illustrates how an invention can be considered inoperative if it does not function as described in the patent application. In this case, the company's new product did not perform as expected during testing, indicating that further experimentation and invention may be required to make it work.