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That which may be put into beneficial practice. 2. The patent act of congress of July 4, 1836, sect. 6, in describing the subjects of patents, mentions new and useful art, and new and useful improvement. To entitle the inventor to a patent, his invention must, to a certain extent, be beneficial to the community, and not be for an unlawful object, or frivolous, or insignificant. … [Read more...] about USEFUL

A term of Roman law used to denote a mode of acquisition of property. It corresponds very nearly to the term "prescription." But the prescription of Roman law differed from that of the English law, in this: that no mala fide possessor (i.e., person in possession knowingly of the property of another) could, by however long a period, acquire title by possession merely. The two … [Read more...] about USUCAPIO, OR USUCAPTIO

The length of time for which an asset is deemed useful for tax purposes and during which it may be depreciated. … [Read more...] about USEFUL LIFE

civil law. The manner of acquiring property in things by the lapse of time required by law. 2. It differs from prescription, which has the same sense, and means, in addition, the manner of acquiring and losing, by the effect of time regulated by law, all sorts of rights and actions. … [Read more...] about USUCAPTION

Patent Law requirement. An invention must have some particular purpose that qualifies such as a new and unique process or method (utility patent) or a unique design (which doesn't have to improve functionality, just appearance and is called a design patent.) … [Read more...] about USEFULNESS