Inadvertent disclosures of inventions in social media affecting patent rights

Patents allow owners to control the commercial exploitation of their inventions. This is particularly important when the invention has significant commercial value. Inventors are likely to be careful about sharing confidential information about the invention during the developmental stage. People are often less careful about sharing information on social media as this is perceived as a social platform. Inadvertent disclosures about inventions on social media, however, can result in subsequent patent applications being rejected. This article explores why such risks arise, the legal conditions involved and how to manage these risks. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.