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Patents
Patent Laws, Regulations, Policies & Procedures
Manual of Patent Examining Procedure
Chapter 0700
Section 721‑723
721‑723 [Reserved] [R-]
[top]
701-Statutory Authority for Examination
702-Requisites of the Application
702.01-Obviously Informal Cases
703-[Reserved]
704-Search and Requirements for Information
704.01-Search
704.02-704.09-[Reserved]
704.10-Requirements for Information
704.11-What Information May Be Required
704.11(a)-Examples of Information Reasonably Required
704.11(b)-When May a Requirement for Information Be Made
704.12-Replies to a Requirement for Information
704.12(a)-Relationship of Requirement for Information to Duty of Disclosure
704.12(b)-What Constitutes a Complete Reply
704.12(c)-Treatment of an Incomplete Reply
704.13-Time Periods for Reply
704.14-Making a Requirement for Information
704.14(a)-Format of the Requirement
704.14(b)-Examiner’s Obligation Following Applicant’s Reply
704.14(c)-Petitions to Requirements Under 37 CFR 1.105
704.14(d)-Relationship to Information Disclosure Statements
705-Patentability Reports
705.01-Instructions re Patentability Reports
705.01(a)-Nature of P.R., Its Use and Disposal
705.01(b)-Sequence of Examination
705.01(c)-Counting and Recording P.R.s
705.01(d)-[Reserved]
705.01(e)-Limitation as to Use
705.01(f)-Interviews With Applicants
706-Rejection of Claims
706.01-Contrasted With Objections
706.02-Rejection on Prior Art
706.02(a)-[Reserved]
706.02(a)(1)-[Reserved]
706.02(a)(2)-[Reserved]
706.02(b)-[Reserved]
706.02(b)(1)-[Reserved]
706.02(b)(2)-[Reserved]
706.02(c)-[Reserved]
706.02(c)(1) -[Reserved]
706.02(c)(2)-[Reserved]
706.02(d)-[Reserved]
706.02(e)-[Reserved]
706.02(f)-[Reserved]
706.02(f)(1)-[Reserved]
706.02(f)(2)-[Reserved]
706.02(g)-[Reserved]
706.02(h)-[Reserved]
706.02(i)-[Reserved]
706.02(j)-[Reserved]
706.02(k)-[Reserved]
706.02(l)-[Reserved]
706.02(l)(1)-[Reserved]
706.02(l)(2)-[Reserved]
706.02(l)(3)-[Reserved]
706.02(m)-[Reserved]
706.02(n)-[Reserved]
706.03-Rejections Not Based on Prior Art
706.03(a)-[Reserved]
706.03(b)-[Reserved]
706.03(c)-[Reserved]
706.03(d)-[Reserved]
706.03(e)-[Reserved]
706.03(f) - 706.03(j)-[Reserved]
706.03(k)-[Reserved]
706.03(l) - 706.03(n)-[Reserved]
706.03(o)-[Reserved]
706.03(p) - 706.03(r)-[Reserved]
706.03(s)-[Reserved]
706.03(t)-[Reserved]
706.03(u)-[Reserved]
706.03(v)-[Reserved]
706.03(w)-[Reserved]
706.03(x)-[Reserved]
706.03(y)-[Reserved]
706.04-Rejection of Previously Allowed Claims
706.05-Rejection After Allowance of Application
706.06-Rejection of Claims Copied From Patent
706.07-Final Rejection
706.07(a)-Final Rejection, When Proper on Second Action
706.07(b)-Final Rejection, When Proper on First Action
706.07(c)-Final Rejection, Premature
706.07(d)-Final Rejection, Withdrawal of, Premature
706.07(e)-Withdrawal of Final Rejection, General
706.07(f)-Time for Reply to Final Rejection
706.07(g)-Transitional After-Final Practice
706.07(h)-Request for Continued Examination (RCE) Practice
707-Examiner’s Letter or Action
707.01-Primary Examiner Indicates Action for New Assistant
707.02-Applications Up for Third Action and 5-Year Applications
707.03‑707.04-[Reserved]
707.05-Citation of References
707.05(a)-Copies of Cited References
707.05(b)-Citation of Related Art and Information by Applicants
707.05(c)-Order of Listing
707.05(d)-Reference Cited in Subsequent Actions
707.05(e)-Data Used in Citing References
707.05(f)-Non-Patent Documents Having a Lengthy Citation
707.05(g)-Incorrect Citation of References
707.06-Citation of Decisions, Orders Memorandums, and Notices
707.07-Completeness and Clarity of Examiner’s Action
707.07(a)-Complete Action on Formal Matters
707.07(b) - 707.07(c)-[Reserved]
707.07(d)-Language To Be Used in Rejecting Claims
707.07(e)-Note All Outstanding Requirements
707.07(f)-Answer All Material Traversed
707.07(g)-Piecemeal Examination
707.07(h)-Notify of Inaccuracies in Amendment
707.07(i)-Each Claim To Be Mentioned in Each Office Action
707.07(j)-State When Claims Are Allowable
707.07(k)-Numbering Paragraphs
707.07(l)-Comment on Examples
707.08-Reviewing and Initialing by Assistant Examiner
707.09-Signing by Primary or Other Authorized Examiner
707.10-Entry
707.11-Date
707.12-Mailing
707.13-Returned Office Action
708-Order of Examination
708.01-List of Special Cases
708.02-Petition To Make Special
708.02(a)-Accelerated Examination
708.02(b)-Prioritized Examination
708.02(c)-Patent Prosecution Highway Program
708.03-Examiner Tenders Resignation
709-Suspension of Action
709.01-Overlapping Applications by Same Applicant or Owned by Same Assignee
710-Period for Reply
710.01-Statutory Period
710.01(a)-Statutory Period, How Computed
710.02-Shortened Statutory Period and Time Limit Actions Computed
710.02(a)-[Reserved]
710.02(b)-Shortened Statutory Period: Situations in Which Used
710.02(c)-Specified Time Limits: Situations in Which Used
710.02(d)-Difference Between Shortened Statutory Periods for Reply and Specified Time Limits
710.02(e)-Extension of Time
710.03-[Reserved]
710.04-Two Periods Running
710.04(a)-Copying Patent Claims
710.05-Period Ending on Saturday, Sunday, or a Federal Holiday
710.06-Situations When Reply Period Is Reset or Restarted
711-Abandonment of Patent Application
711.01-Express or Formal Abandonment
711.02-Failure To Take Required Action During Statutory Period
711.02(a)-Insufficiency of Reply
711.02(b)-Special Situations Involving Abandonment
711.02(c)-Termination of Proceedings
711.03-Reconsideration of Holding of Abandonment; Revival
711.03(a)-Holding Based on Insufficiency of Reply
711.03(b)-Holding Based on Failure To Reply Within Period
711.03(c)-Petitions Relating to Abandonment
711.03(d)-Examiner’s Statement on Petition To Set Aside Examiner’s Holding
711.04-Public Access to Abandoned Applications
711.04(a)-Date of Abandonment
711.04(b)-Ordering of Patented and Abandoned Files
711.04(c)-Notifying Applicants of Abandonment
711.05-Letter of Abandonment Received After Application Is Allowed
711.06-Abstracts, Abbreviatures, and Defensive Publications
711.06(a)-Citation and Use of Abstracts, Abbreviatures, and Defensive Publications as References
712-[Reserved]
713-Interviews
713.01-General Policy, How Conducted
713.02-Interviews Prior to First Official Action
713.03-Interview for “Sounding Out” Examiner Not Permitted
713.04-Substance of Interview Must Be Made of Record
713.05-Interviews Prohibited or Granted, Special Situations
713.06-No Inter Partes Questions Discussed Ex Parte
713.07-Exposure of Other Cases
713.08-Demonstration, Exhibits, Models
713.09-Interviews Between Final Rejection and Notice of Appeal
713.10-Interview Preceding Filing Amendment Under 37 CFR 1.312
714-Amendments, Applicant’s Action
714.01-Signatures to Amendments
714.01(a)-Unsigned or Improperly Signed Amendment
714.01(b)-[Reserved]
714.01(c)-Signed by Attorney or Agent Not of Record
714.01(d)-Amendment Signed by Applicant but Not by Attorney or Agent of Record
714.01(e)-Amendments Before First Office Action
714.02-Must Be Fully Responsive
714.03-Amendments Not Fully Responsive, Action To Be Taken
714.03(a)-Supplemental Amendment
714.04-Claims Presented in Amendment With No Attempt To Point Out Patentable Novelty
714.05-Examiner Should Immediately Review
714.06-[Reserved]
714.07-Amendments Not in Permanent Ink
714.08-714.09-[Reserved]
714.10-Claims Added in Excess of Claims Previously Paid For
714.11-Amendment Filed During Interference Proceedings
714.12-Amendments and Other Replies After Final Rejection or Action
714.13-Amendments and Other Replies After Final Rejection or Action, Procedure Followed
714.14-Amendments After Allowance of All Claims
714.15-Amendment Received in Technology Center After Mailing of Notice of Allowance
714.16-Amendment After Notice of Allowance, 37 CFR 1.312
714.16(a)-Amendments Under 37 CFR 1.312, Copied Patent Claims
714.16(b)-Amendments Under 37 CFR 1.312 Filed With a Motion Under 37 CFR 41.208
714.16(c)-Amendments Under 37 CFR 1.312, Additional Claims
714.16(d)-Amendments Under 37 CFR 1.312, Handling
714.16(e)-Amendments Under 37 CFR 1.312, Entry in Part
714.17-Amendment Filed After the Period for Reply Has Expired
714.18-Entry of Amendments
714.19-List of Amendments, Entry Denied
714.20-List of Amendments Entered in Part
714.21-Amendments Inadvertently Entered, No Legal Effect
714.22-714.24-[Reserved]
714.25-Discourtesy of Applicant or Attorney
715-Swearing Behind a Reference — Affidavit or Declaration Under 37 CFR 1.131(a)
715.01-37 CFR 1.131(a) Affidavits Versus 37 CFR 1.132 Affidavits
715.01(a)-Reference Is a Patent or Published Application Naming Different Inventive Entity With at Least One Common Inventor
715.01(b)-Reference and Application Have Common Assignee
715.01(c)-Reference Is Publication of Inventor’s Own Invention
715.01(d)-Activities Applied Against the Claims
715.02-How Much of the Claimed Invention Must Be Shown, Including the General Rule as to Generic Claims
715.03-Genus-Species, Practice Relative to Cases Where Predictability Is in Question
715.04-Who May Make Affidavit or Declaration Under 37 CFR 1.131(a); Formal Requirements of Affidavits and Declarations
715.05-U.S. Patent or Application Publication Claiming Same Invention
715.06-[Reserved]
715.07-Facts and Documentary Evidence
715.07(a)-Diligence
715.07(b)-Interference Testimony Sometimes Used
715.07(c)-Acts Relied Upon Must Have Been Carried Out in This Country or a NAFTA or WTO Member Country
715.07(d)-Disposition of Exhibits
715.08-Decided by Primary Examiner
715.09-Timely Presentation
715.10-Review of Affidavit or Declaration for Evidence of Prior Public Use or Sale or Failure to Disclose Best Mode
716-Affidavits or Declarations Under 37 CFR 1.132 and Other Evidence Traversing Rejections
716.01-Generally Applicable Criteria
716.01(a)-Objective Evidence of Nonobviousness
716.01(b)-Nexus Requirement and Evidence of Nonobviousness
716.01(c)-Probative Value of Objective Evidence
716.01(d)-Weighing Objective Evidence
716.02-Allegations of Unexpected Results
716.02(a)-Evidence Must Show Unexpected Results
716.02(b)-Burden on Applicant
716.02(c)-Weighing Evidence of Expected and Unexpected Results
716.02(d)-Unexpected Results Commensurate in Scope With Claimed Invention
716.02(e)-Comparison With Closest Prior Art
716.02(f)-Advantages Disclosed or Inherent
716.02(g)-[Reserved]
716.03-Commercial Success
716.03(a)-Commercial Success Commensurate in Scope With Claimed Invention
716.03(b)-Commercial Success Derived From Claimed Invention
716.04-Long-Felt Need and Failure of Others
716.05-Skepticism of Experts
716.06-Copying
716.07-Inoperability of References
716.08-Utility and Operability of Applicant’s Disclosure
716.09-Sufficiency of Disclosure
716.10-Attribution Affidavit or Declaration to Overcome Rejection Under Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 or 103
717-Prior Art Exceptions under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) and (2)
717.01-Affidavit or Declaration Under 37 CFR 1.130
717.01(a) -Declarations or Affidavits under 37 CFR 1.130(a) – Attribution
717.01(a)(1) -Evaluation of Declarations or Affidavits under 37 CFR 1.130(a)
717.01(b) -Declarations or Affidavits under 37 CFR 1.130(b) – Prior Public Disclosure
717.01(b)(1) -Evaluation of Declarations or Affidavits under 37 CFR 1.130(b)
717.01(b)(2) -Determining if the Subject Matter of the Intervening Disclosure is the Same as the Subject Matter of the Inventor–Originated Prior Public Disclosure
717.01(c) -Who May Make Affidavit or Declaration; Formal Requirements of Affidavits and Declarations
717.01(d)-U.S. Patent or Application Publication Claiming Same Invention
717.01(e) -Passed Upon (or Decided by) by Primary Examiner
717.01(f) -Seasonable (or Timely) Presentation
717.02 -Prior Art Exception for Commonly Owned or Joint Research Agreement Subject Matter under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C)
717.02(a) -Invoking the Prior Art Exception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C)
717.02(b) -Evaluating Whether the Prior Art Exception under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) is Properly Invoked
717.02(c) -Examination Procedure With Respect to the Prior Art Exception under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C)
717.02(d) -Form Paragraphs With Respect to the Prior Art Exception under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C)
718-Affidavit or Declaration to Disqualify Commonly Owned Patent as Prior Art, 37 CFR 1.131(c)
719-File Wrapper
719.01-Papers in Image File Wrapper
719.02-Residence of Inventor Changed
719.03-Classification During Examination
719.04-Index of Claims
719.05-Field of Search
720-Public Use Proceedings
721‑723-[Reserved]
724-Trade Secret, Proprietary, and Protective Order Materials
724.01-Completeness of the Patent File Wrapper
724.02-Method of Submitting Trade Secret, Proprietary, and/or Protective Order Materials
724.03-Types of Trade Secret, Proprietary, and/or Protective Order Materials Submitted Under MPEP § 724.02
724.04-Office Treatment and Handling of Materials Submitted Under MPEP § 724.02
724.04(a)-Materials Submitted in an Application Covered by 35 U.S.C. 122
724.04(b)-Materials Submitted in Reissue Applications Open to the Public Under 37 CFR 1.11(b)
724.04(c)-Materials Submitted in Reexamination File Open to the Public Under 37 CFR 1.11(d)
724.05-Petition To Expunge Information or Copy of Papers in Application File
724.06-Handling of Petitions To Expunge Information or Copy of Papers in Application File
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Last Modified: 02/16/2023 12:58:29