United States is a first to file country

Patent News: As of March 2013, the United States is a first to file country.  There is no more grace period.  FIRST TO FILE WINS
USPTO says some of the key provisions of the AIA include:
· Transitioning the U.S. to a first-to-file system.
· Providing an enhanced grace period for inventors to safeguard patent rights against disclosures made by inventors made one year or less before the effective filing date, which allows inventors to engage in crucial negotiations with potential buyers or investors without fear of losing their right to a patent. (true only for publications)
· Consistent with international norms, the definition of prior art now includes non-printed disclosures, including oral disclosures, made available to the public anywhere in the world.
· Providing prior art effect to US patent applications as of their foreign priority dates, thus eliminating the Hilmer doctrine.
· Eliminating the requirement for inventors to set forth the best mode to carry out the invention as a defense in infringement actions or in post grant review.
· Providing 75% discount for patent fees to all applicants that qualify as micro entities.

Because the United States was a first to invent country for hundreds of years, many people became accustomed to the grace period of one year.  In a radical departure from tradition, the United States is no longer a first to invent country.  

Under MPEP 2155 an inventor can file affidavits or declarations Under 37 CFR 1.130 to overcome prior art rejections, but these can be discredited if shown to be false:

• An affidavit or declaration can be submitted by the inventor, joint inventor, or someone who obtained the subject matter from them, to show that the disclosure was made by them or derived from them before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
• An affidavit or declaration can also be submitted to show that the subject matter disclosed had been publicly disclosed by the inventor, joint inventor, or someone who obtained the subject matter from them, before the disclosure was made or effectively filed.
• An affidavit or declaration must be filed by a party having authority to take action in the application or patent under reexamination, and must be accompanied by evidence corroborating the statements made in the affidavit or declaration.
• An affidavit or declaration must identify the disclosure to be disqualified as prior art and explain how it is related to the claimed invention