Edit: ok, apparently “prior art” might be a phase in US patent law. I don’t quite understand what it means. In my country patents protect functions, not expressions of ideas (art)
My understanding of a patent (in the US) is that it’s only for new, novel concepts, often difficult to design or conceive.
Prior art, in this context, are just examples of this concept already in use or demonstrated. If there are already examples of the idea in use by others, then your idea isn’t new (and therefore not patentable).
Patents don’t protect art
Edit: ok, apparently “prior art” might be a phase in US patent law. I don’t quite understand what it means. In my country patents protect functions, not expressions of ideas (art)
That’s not what “art” means in this context.
My understanding of a patent (in the US) is that it’s only for new, novel concepts, often difficult to design or conceive.
Prior art, in this context, are just examples of this concept already in use or demonstrated. If there are already examples of the idea in use by others, then your idea isn’t new (and therefore not patentable).