Supreme Court Rules “Secret” Sale of Invention Can Trigger On-Sale Bar Under America Invents Act

In a 9-0 opinion issued by Justice Thomas, the Supreme Court held today that even where the buyer is obligated to maintain confidentiality of an invention, the inventor’s “secret” sale of an invention may place the invention “on sale” for purposes of the America Invents Act, and confirmed that the America Invents Act did not change the definition of “prior art” with respect to the on-sale bar.