Balancing Disclosure Practices In China And The United States

The patent system observes the concept "disclosure in exchange for protection". In order to obtain patent protection, an applicant must disclose the technology that is sought to be patented; on one hand to share the particular technologic knowledge with the public, and on the other hand to demonstrate that he or she is in possession of the claimed invention. As two major destination countries for patent filings, China and the United States adopt different approaches regarding patent disclosures.

Formal requirements

Both China and the U.S. require a patent application to describe the invention to which it pertains in a clear and full manner, so as to enable a person skilled in the relevant field of technology to carry it out¹.