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Simple English definitions for legal terms
memorandum of alteration
Read a random definition: suit for exoneration
A quick definition of memorandum of alteration:
A memorandum of alteration is a legal document used in English law by a patent holder to give up certain rights to a part of their invention that is not new or useful. This is done to prevent the entire patent from being invalidated. In the past, if a patent included two inventions and one of them was not new or useful, the entire patent would be considered invalid.
A more thorough explanation:
A memorandum of alteration is a legal document used in English law by a patentee to disclaim certain rights to avoid losing the entire patent. This is typically done when part of the invention is not new or useful.
For example, if a patent is granted for two inventions but one of them is not new or useful, the entire patent would be considered defective. In this case, the patentee can use a memorandum of alteration to disclaim the non-new or non-useful part of the invention and maintain the validity of the patent for the other part.
Another example could be a patentee who realizes that their invention infringes on someone else's patent. They can use a memorandum of alteration to disclaim the infringing part of their invention and avoid legal action.