What is a Statement of Use?

A Statement of Use (SOU) is an important document in the patenting process in Mississippi. It is filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) when an invention is ready to be used and is owned by a patentee. The SOU is used to show that the invention is indeed being used and is in full compliance with the inventor’s patent claims. Basically, a SOU is a form where the patentee submits proof that the invention is being used or ‘reduced to practice’. This can include drawings, blueprints, engineering schematics, or any other description of the invention’s details that can be provided as evidence. It is also useful to identify any potential infringements on the patentee’s intellectual property rights. Filing a SOU is done after a patent is issued; the patent application must be complete before a SOU can be filed. Additionally, an SOU must be filed within two years of the patent application being issued or else the patent is void. A SOU is an important document in the patenting process in Mississippi and every inventor should be aware of it. The SOU provides proof that the invention is being used, as well as protection of the patentee’s rights. It is also a helpful tool in identifying any potential infringements of the patentee’s intellectual property rights.

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What is a Statement of Use?

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