nonnovelty

Nonnovelty is the state or quality of lacking novelty, meaning that something is not new or not originally disclosed. The term is used to describe ideas, inventions, works, or statements that have already been known prior to a given date, rather than presenting new information or innovation. In practice, nonnovelty is often discussed in relation to what counts as original or prior art.

In patent law, novelty is a foundational requirement for patentability. A claimed invention is considered nonnovel if every essential feature is disclosed in a single prior art reference before the filing date. When this occurs, the claim is said to be anticipated and is not patentable. The assessment typically involves comparing the claim to prior patents, publications, products, or public demonstrations. Some jurisdictions distinguish novelty from inventive step (obviousness); an invention can be novel but still unpatentable if it is deemed obvious in light of prior art.

Beyond patents, nonnovelty can appear in scientific publishing, product development, and creative fields as a descriptor for ideas or works that do not advance knowledge or originality beyond what is already known. In these contexts, determining novelty helps evaluate originality, research value, or copyright eligibility.

See also: novelty; anticipation; prior art; patent law; originality.