The '''first to file''' policy is a world-wide mainstream [[patent]] law doctrine used by nearlymost of the whole world, with the notable exception saveof the [[United States]]. The [[Philippines]] recently changed its patent system from a [[first to invent]] to a first to file system. Based on this policy, even if [[inventor]] A made the [[invention]] earlier than inventor B, if B filed the patent application to the [[patent office]] earlier, B shall be awarded a patent. For example, [[Alexander Graham Bell]] filed a U.S. patent application a few hours before [[Elisha Gray]], so Bell, not Gray, got a patent for the [[telephone]].
