Section 3, The Patents and Industrial Design Act, 2012

(1) An invention is new if it is not anticipated by priorart. (2) For the purpose of this Act, prior art consists of everything disclosed to the public anywhere in the world, by publication in tangible form or by oral disclosure, by use or in any other way, prior to the filing or, where appropriate, the priority date, of the application claiming the invention. (3) In the evaluation of novelty, an application for the grant of a patent in Sierra Leone shall be considered to have been comprised in prior art as from the filing date of the application, or if priority is claimed, as from the date of its validity claimed priority, to the extent to which its content is available or is later made available to the public in accordance with this Act. (4) For the purposes of subsection (2), a disclosure of the invention to the public shall not be taken into consideration if it occurred within twelve months preceding the filing date or where applicable, the priority date of the application; and if it was by reason or in consequence of- 2 3 Interpretation. Patentable inventions. Novelty. No. 10 Patents and Industrial Designs Act 2012 No. 10 Patents and Industrial Designs Act 2012 (a) acts committed by the applicant or his predecessor-in- title; or (b) an abuse committed by a third party or his predecessor- in-title.