What are examples of “Public Disclosure”?
• Written publications: The publishing of a manuscript, book chapter, journal article, proceedings, thesis, pre-print, and the like are forms of publication. • Oral Presentations: Oral presentations may also constitute public disclosures, but are sometimes held not to be public disclosures for two reasons. It’s harder to communicate the essence of an invention orally, and it’s harder to establish afterward exactly what was communicated. • Prototypes and Samples: Providing prototypes and samples of an invention can be a publication, depending on the circumstances. If they are provided in order to be used for their intended purpose (or if they are so used despite the intent), then publication has occurred. If they are provided only for testing or evaluation, then publication has probably not occurred. • Sale or Public Use: Any sale or public use of an invention is a publication. It has also been held that offering a product for sale (whether or not anyone buys) is a publication. • Meetin
