Gillette defence

noun

Definitions of Gillette defence

English

a defence against a patent infringement claim where the defendant claims that the product or process is a prior art (=generally known at the time that the patent was granted) and that the patent is therefore invalid on the grounds of novelty. The defence is named after the case of Gillette Safety Razor V Anglo Trading Case (1913).

The defendant used the 'Gillette defence' as a defence strategy to safeguard its interest in a patent infringement suit.