First-Inventor-to-File

The First-Inventor-to-File (FITF) system is a patent rule that awards patent rights to the person who first files a patent application for an invention, rather than the person who first made the invention. This shift encourages inventors to file promptly, providing a clear record of their claim. It promotes fairness by giving priority based on filing date, reducing disputes over who invented something first. Under this system, documentation and timely filing are critical, as the primary factor for patent eligibility depends on who files first, not who invented the idea first.