The first inventor to file (FITF) provision of the America Invents Act transitions the U.S. to a first-inventor-to-file system from a first-to-invent system and became effective on March 16, 2013. The provision introduced changes to 35 U.S.C. § 102 that impact patent prosecution directly. This resource page gathers information about patent prosecution under the FITF system all in one place.
Examiner Training Materials
This section provides training materials developed for examiners.
- First Inventor to File Statutory Framework Chart [PDF]
- FITF Definitions [PDF]
- AIA Rules and Regulations (non-FITF) Slides [PDF]
- AIA FITF Status Indicator Training Slides (Fall 2013) [PDF]
- Overview Training Slides (March 2013) [PDF]
- Overview Follow-On Training Slides (March 2013) that has additional examples [PDF]
- Comprehensive Training Slides (Summer 2013) [PDF]
- FITF Hands on Workshop Introduction and Statute Review Slides (Fall 2013) [PDF]
- FITF Evidentiary Declarations Slides (Jan 2015) [PDF]
Public Events
- 2014 AIA FITF Fall Roadshow (Sep-Oct 2014) Slides [PDF]
- AIA FITF Public Forum on the First Anniversary of FITF (April 2014) Slides [PDF]
Rules and Guidance
- First Inventor to File Rules Correction (78 Fed. Reg. 16182, March 14, 2013)
- First Inventor to File Rules (78 Fed. Reg. 11024, February 14, 2013)
More information
- For more information on First Inventor to File visit here
http://www.uspto.gov/patent/laws-and-regulations/america-invents-act-aia/patents-examination#heading-10
- For more information on other AIA provisions, visit here
http://www.uspto.gov/patent/laws-and-regulations/leahy-smith-america-invents-act-implementation