35 U.S.C. 102
Conditions for patentability; novelty.
(a) NOVELTY; PRIOR ART.
--A person shall be entitled to a patent unless--
(1) the claimed invention
was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale,
or otherwise available to the public
before the effective filing date of the claimed invention; or
(2) the claimed invention
was described in a patent issued under section 151,
or in an application for patent
published or deemed published under section 122(b),
in which the patent or application, as the case may be,
names another inventor and
was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
(b) EXCEPTIONS.-- ...
