<i>&quot;This is quite different from the US Patent office,&quot;</i><p>Today it&#x27;s different from US patent office. For most of the US Patent office&#x27;s history, it was the same.<p>See:<p><a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;State_Street_Bank_%26_Trust_Co._v._Signature_Financial_Group,_Inc" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;State_Street_Bank_%26_Trust_Co...</a>.