As an aside....Patent law in the US is likely to change significantly in the next 18 months or so. Both houses have passed extremely similar bills that will likely be combined and passed.
That law changes the US patent system from first to invent to first to file. The entity that files also will no longer have to provide a "best mode" though they will have to disclose enough to show utility.
The disclosure will have to show complete novelty. That definition is still up in the air but it will most certainly include any revenue generated from the product or products derived from the product. That may extend to the IP itself (i.e. soliciting venture capital money using the idea with intention of using the money to file/prosecute the patent and related patents).
It'll drastically change how american companies have to operate and a HUGE advantage will be given to large pharma and other behemoths as they already tend to file everything. It has a good chance of killing any small competition.
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