Section 271 of the Patent Act addresses infringement. Its general direct-infringement provision concerns unauthorized making, using, offering to sell, or selling a patented invention within the United States, or importing it into the United States, during the patent’s term.
Begin With the Claims
The comparison involves the patent claims and the relevant product or process. Similar appearance, a shared product category, or a matching title does not resolve that comparison. Claim interpretation and the evidence matter.
Other Rules Can Matter
The statute also addresses other forms of infringement and specific exceptions. Authorization, territorial limits, timing, defenses, and the patent’s status can affect an analysis. A general page cannot determine whether a particular activity infringes.
Use a Public Starting Point
If you hold a patent and want to request a contact, provide the public patent identifier and a short non-confidential description through the patent-holder page. Do not submit legal analysis, privileged communications, or confidential business information.
For the document itself, read what patent claims are.