first-to-file

First-to-file is a principle used in patent law that grants exclusive rights to the person who files a patent application for an invention first, regardless of who invented it first. This means that, when two or more people claim the same invention, the right to obtain the patent typically goes to the individual who submitted their application earliest. The system encourages inventors to act quickly and file their applications promptly, ensuring that legal rights are awarded based on the act of filing rather than the actual invention date.