- The term "State of the art" is sometimes used as positive attribute. For example, you may consider "state-of-the-art" an equipment or a service that is the best (or among the best) equipment (device, technology, ...) or service you may get, compared to ... the state of the art. In this case, State-of-Art means "cutting edge" or "with the highest level of development", while it usually comes related to a specific sector, industry or scientific field and to a particular time.
- In Copyright and Patent practice, on the contrary, the term is used as attribute with a non-positive meaning. A "state-of-the-art" entity is a non-exceptional, non-innovative one that cannot claim any originality and to be an invention.
- The term "Art" may be used to identify the current (average or best) skills and the methods (i.e. the manufacture and craftsmanship techniques or technologies) in a specific field or activity so that "State-of-the-Art" means the expected quality of a product/service/activity without more precise specification, for example, in a written or implicit contract.