In the world of intellectual property, transparency is usually the goal. However, some inventors use "submarine patents" to turn the legal system into a trap.
Shifting the patent term to 20 years from the filing date (rather than 17 years from the issuance date) removes the incentive to delay. 1229009
By filing a series of "continuing applications," the inventor keeps the patent "alive" and unissued in the patent office for decades. In the world of intellectual property, transparency is
Instead of rewarding true advancement, the system rewards those who can best manipulate administrative timelines. In the world of intellectual property
Inventors file applications with vague or expansive language.