Under the existing system (which will remain in effect until 18 months from signing), if someone applies for a patent and you have evidence that you invented it first, you can institute an interference proceeding.
First Solar spokesman Alan Bernheimer said the company is proceeding with the construction of the project, which has 185 workers on site, but declined to comment further.
Particularly since debtors have little ability to restrict when they can be placed into an involuntary bankruptcy proceeding, this decision must give the heebie-jeebies to planners whose first line of defense is a business entity to attempt to shield personal assets.
Prosecutors in a capital case must first persuade jurors of Mr. Holmes's guilt, then, in a separate proceeding, convince the same jurors that aggravating circumstances such as multiple victims justify a death sentence.