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Search

The act of searching through intellectual property records in order to verify whether a patent, trademark or design has been previously filed or registered.

Small entity

"Small entity" in respect of an invention, means an entity that employs 50 or fewer employees or that is a university, but does not include an entity that: (a) has transferred or licensed, or is under a contractual or other legal obligation to transfer or license, any right in the invention to an entity, other than a university, that employs more than 50 employees, or (b) has transferred or licensed, or is under a contractual or other legal obligation to transfer or license, any right in the invention to an entity that employs 50 or fewer employees or that is a university, and has knowledge of any subsequent transfer or license of, or of any subsisting contractual or other legal obligation to transfer or license, any right in the invention to an entity, other than a university, that employs more than 50 employees. 

Sound recording

A device which produces sounds, such as cassette, record, or CD player.

Special Order Examination

A request to the Patent Office for early consideration of a patent application.

Specification

Part of the patent application. It includes a detailed description of the invention, claims specifying the aspects of the invention for which protection is sought, and the extent of the protection being sought