dubious patents

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "dubious patents" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe patents that are questionable in terms of their validity or ethical implications. Example: "The company was criticized for filing dubious patents that seemed to stifle innovation rather than promote it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

A flood of equally dubious patents followed.

The Economist

So he bristles at the characterization of DataTreasury as a company that merely exploits dubious patents.

The New York Times

For example, in America, many experts believe that dubious patents abound, such as the notorious one for a "sealed crustless sandwich".

The Economist

A second is the rise in dubious patents, particularly in the fields of software and business methods, that should never have been awarded.

The Economist

It's a critical issue: the current approach, under which juries are explicitly discouraged from questioning a patent's validity, all too often means that dubious patents are nevertheless enforced.

The New York Times

They also lack the resources to track every instance of patent infringement or defend their patents or file petitions to invalidate dubious patents.

University of California, Berkeley

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

Mr. Schumer has said he is simply defending New York banks against a company that has made a "cottage industry out of extracting legal settlements" from a dubious patent provision.

The New York Times

With effective cough medicine as yet undiscovered, parents are dosing their babies with dubious patent potions like "Orangeine" that kill some of them, sicken many more and cause others to become addicted.

The New York Times - Books

It stopped allowing testimony from its own contributors and avoided ads for dubious products like patent-medicine cures, which were a fixture of magazine pages back then.

The New Yorker

Conversely, plenty of people hold the equally dubious view that patent and copyright systems will always amass more power for elite companies, squash innovation, and exploit developing countries.

MIT Technology Review

As a result there is a mountain of Chinese patents of dubious quality.UNESCO's latest attempt to look at patents has therefore focused on the offices of America, Europe and Japan, as these are deemed of "high quality".

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing legal or business matters, use "dubious patents" to clearly convey concerns about the legitimacy or enforceability of certain patents. This term effectively communicates skepticism regarding their validity.

Common error

Avoid using "dubious patents" to describe all patents you disagree with. Reserve this term for cases where there's concrete evidence or strong reason to doubt the patent's validity, such as prior art issues or overly broad claims.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "dubious patents" functions as an adjective-noun combination, where "dubious" modifies "patents". Ludwig examples illustrate how this phrase is used to describe patents that are of questionable validity or merit.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "dubious patents" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to denote patents of questionable validity or merit. As Ludwig AI confirms, its purpose is to express skepticism or criticism, often appearing in news, academic, and business contexts. While the phrase is valuable for conveying concerns about patent legitimacy, remember to use it judiciously and reserve it for situations where there's a credible basis for doubt. Alternatives such as "questionable patents" or "suspect patents" can provide similar nuances depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

questionable patents

Focuses on the uncertainty and doubt surrounding the legitimacy or validity of the patents.

suspect patents

Highlights the potential for something being wrong or illegitimate with the patents.

invalid patents

Emphasizes the lack of legal force or recognition of the patents.

tenuous patents

Suggests that the patents are weak and easily challenged.

weak patents

Indicates the patents do not have a strong legal basis.

shaky patents

Implies the patents are unstable or unreliable.

dubious intellectual property claims

Broadens the scope to include various types of intellectual property claims that are questionable.

unmeritorious patents

Highlights the lack of substantive value or worthiness of the patents.

flimsy patents

Highlights how weak or unconvincing the patents' claims are.

poor quality patents

Focuses on the low standard and potential problems with the patents.

FAQs

What does "dubious patents" mean?

The term "dubious patents" refers to patents that are questionable in terms of their validity, scope, or ethical implications. They may be considered "questionable patents" because they lack novelty, are obvious, or cover abstract ideas.

How can I use "dubious patents" in a sentence?

You can use "dubious patents" to describe situations where the legitimacy or enforceability of a patent is in doubt. For example: "The company was criticized for filing dubious patents that seemed to stifle innovation rather than promote it."

What are some alternatives to saying "dubious patents"?

Some alternatives to "dubious patents" include "questionable patents", "suspect patents", or "invalid patents". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

What makes a patent "dubious"?

A patent can be considered "dubious" if it covers something that was already known (prior art), is an obvious variation of existing technology, lacks a clear and specific description, or attempts to patent an abstract idea. Legal challenges often target such "weak patents".