1. The act of meddling in another’s affairs.
2. An obstruction or hindrance.
3. Patents. An administrative proceeding in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to determine who is entitled to the patent when two or more applicants claim the same invention, or when an application interferes with an existing patent. • This proceeding occurs when the same invention is claimed (1) in two pending applications, or (2) in one pending application and a patent issued within a year of the pending application’s filing date. — Also termed priority contest. [Cases: Patents 106. C.J.S. Patents §§ 159–162, 165.]
4. Trademarks. An administrative proceeding in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to determine whether a mark that one party wants to register will cause confusion among consumers with another party’s mark. • An administrative hearing may be held to determine whose mark prevails, but applicants usu. withdraw their applications and devise new marks instead. [Cases: Trade Regulation 215. C.J.S. Trade-Marks, Trade-Names, and Unfair Competition §§ 179, 181.] — interfere, vb.
