obviousness
obviousness, n. Patents. The quality or state of being easily apparent to a person with ordinary skill in a given art, considering the scope and content of the prior art, so that the person could reasonably believe that, at the time it was conceived, the invention was to be expected. • An invention that is determined to be obvious cannot be patented. Although an obviousness inquiry is rife with questions of fact, the ultimate conclusion is a question of law. See 35 USCA § 103. Cf. NONOBVIOUSNESS. [Cases: Patents 16. C.J.S. Patents § 68.] — obvious, adj.
