First-to-Invent

First-to-Invent is a legal principle used in patent law that determines who owns the rights to an invention. It states that the person who invents something first, regardless of whether they file a patent application earlier, is entitled to the patent rights. This system emphasizes the actual date the invention was created, not just when it was officially recorded or filed. It’s different from the more recent first-to-file system, which grants rights to the person who files a patent application first. First-to-Invent aims to reward the earliest inventor, encouraging prompt documentation of new inventions.