Internet as a source of prior art

The internet is like a big library where people can post and share all kinds of information. This information can be used to help prove that an idea or invention is not new or original, which is important when someone is trying to get a patent.

Let's say you have an idea for a cool new gadget that nobody has ever heard of. But before you can get a patent for it, you need to make sure it's really new and hasn't been invented by someone else already.

One way to do this is to search the internet to see if anyone else has already written about, talked about, or made something similar to your idea. If you find that someone has already done something similar, this is called prior art.

Prior art can be used to help show that your idea is not new or original, and therefore can't be patented. This is important because patents are meant to protect new and innovative ideas, and if your idea isn't really new, then it shouldn't be eligible for a patent.

So, the internet is just one tool that people can use to find prior art and make sure their ideas are truly original. But remember, just because something is on the internet doesn't mean it's accurate or reliable, so it's important to do thorough research and look for multiple sources of information.