Keeping records key to obtaining US patents

On December 11, 2001, China became the 143rd member of the WTO. This will significantly change China-related intellectual property practice, protection and enforcement. For companies that are in China now, those that have plans to enter the Chinese market and Chinese companies that are expanding into the US market, keeping good records to preserve US patent rights is now extremely important. China adopted a first-to-file patent application system when its first patent law was enacted in 1984. Under US patent laws, it is essential to keep contemporaneous and thorough records of developing inventions to ensure that an invention first developed by a company remains the property of that company. The difference between first-to-invent and first-to-file is discussed.