Teach Toward-Teach Away: A prior art reference that suggests or pointsin the direction of the present invention is said to teach toward the inventionand is evidence that the invention is obvious. A prior-art reference thatdiverges and points in a technical direction away from the present invention isevidence that the invention is unobvious. Prior art must be looked at in itsentirety.
Teach: To inform and instruct by way of the documents making up theprior art. The prior art references teach the technology disclosed in them orrevealed by them.
Teaching Away: The situation in which a prior art reference suggeststhat a claimed invention is not possible.
Technical Field: The field of art to which the invention pertains.
Technology Manager: The person in a public sector or private sectororganization who is responsible for managing the intellectual property of theorganization. Various titles are used for the position, includingTechnology-Transfer Officer, Licensing Associate, etc. The Association ofUniversity Technology Managers (AUTM) has over 1,200 members. Another suchorganization, the Licensing Executives Society (LES), has over 6,000 membersworldwide.
Term of Patent: The maximum number of years that the monopoly rightsconferred by the grant of a patent may last.
Terminal Disclaimer: A document filed with the USPTO by an applicant,assignee or patent attorney or agent wherein a terminal portion of the normalterm of the patent is given up.
Terminal Disclaimer: Where an obviousness-type double patentingrejection has occurred, an applicant may file a document indicating that theterm of the second patent will end upon expiration of the first patent to issue.
Title of Invention: A brief but technically accurate name for aninvention.
Trade Name: A name used to identify a business entity.
Trade Secret: Information kept secret by an organization for thepurpose of maintaining a competitive advantage.
Trademark: A word, name, symbol, or device, or any combinationthereof, used by a manufacturer or by a vendor in connection with a product.
Traverse: To dispute the decision of an examiner. In proceedingsbefore the USPTO, failing to traverse an examiner’s reliance on alleged"common knowledge" or information that is alleged to be "wellknown" in the art can result in the allegation becoming an admission, and,hence, "fact" even though it is no true.
