A Study on the Patent Law Standard of Non-obviousness

1996
Judy A. Errat, Ph. D.
Gowling, Strathy & Henderson

Table of Contents

Disclaimer

Legal Summary

1. Introduction
   • 1.1  Purpose of Report
2. The Standard of Non–obviousness in Canada
   • 2.1  Introduction
   • 2.2  Test for Non–obviousness
     • 2.2.1  The Evolution of the Test for Non–Obviousness
     • 2.2.2  The “Unimaginative Skilled Technician”
     • 2.2.3  Determination of Claimed Invention
     • 2.2.4  Relevant Date
     • 2.2.5  Common General Knowledge
     • 2.2.6  Prior Art
     • 2.2.7  Secondary Considerations
     • 2.2.8  Summary
   • 2.3  The Application of the Standard of Non–Obviousness in Canada
     • 2.3.1  Introduction
     • 2.3.2  Review of Canadian Patent Office and Canadian Court Decisions
       • 2.3.2.1  Introduction
         • 2.3.2.1.1  Patent Application or Patent Accepted
           • 2.3.2.1.1.1  Solution to a Problem Not Posed in the Prior Art
           • 2.3.2.1.1.2  Advantages from the Claimed Combination
           • 2.3.2.1.1.3  Commercial Success/Long Felt Want
           • 2.3.2.1.1.4  Substitution Involving Inventive Ingenuity
           • 2.3.2.1.1.5  Surprising Results
         • 2.3.2.1.2  Patent Application or Patent Rejected
           • 2.3.2.1.2.1  Workshop Improvement
           • 2.3.2.1.2.2  New Use of an Old Process or Analogous Use Where There is No Novelty or Invention in the Adaptation of the Old Process
           • 2.3.2.1.2.3  Substitution in an Obvious Manner
           • 2.3.2.1.2.4  Combination Does Not Provide a Result — A Mere Aggregation
         • 2.3.2.1.3  Summary
3. The Standard of Non–obviousness in the United States
   • 3.1  Introduction
   • 3.2  Test for Non–obviousness
     • 3.2.1  The Evolution of the Test for Non–Obviousness
     • 3.2.2  The Scope and Content of the Prior Art
     • 3.2.3  The Differences between the Prior Art and the Claims
     • 3.2.4  The Level of Ordinary Skill in the Art
     • 3.2.5  Secondary Considerations
       • 3.2.5.1  Commercial Success
       • 3.2.5.2  Long Felt Need
       • 3.2.5.3  Failure by Others
       • 3.2.5.4  Acquiescence of Acclaim by the Industry
       • 3.2.5.5  Copying
       • 3.2.5.6  Simultaneous Solutions by Different Inventors
       • 3.2.5.7  Scepticism by Those Skilled in the Art
       • 3.2.5.8  Unexpected or Surprising Results
       • 3.2.5.9  Admissions
   • 3.3  The Application of the Standard of Non–Obviousness in the United States
   • 3.4  United States vs. Canada: Distinctions and Similarities
   • 3.5  Summary
4. The Standard of Non–obviousness in European Practice
   • 4.1  Introduction
   • 4.2  Test for Non–obviousness
     • 4.2.1  The Evolution of the Test for Non–Obviousness
     • 4.2.2  The Prior Art
     • 4.2.3  The Objection Problem
     • 4.2.4  The Assessment of the Solution
   • 4.3  The Application of the Standard of Non–Obviousness in Europe
   • 4.4  Europe vs. Canada: Distinctions and Similarities
   • 4.5  Summary

Summary

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Appendix to a Study on the Patent Law Standard of Non–obviousness

A Study on the Patent Law Standard of Non–Obviousness (PDF, 421 KB, 97 pages)

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