Question: What are some examples of rationales that may support a conclusion of obviousness? Answer: Examples of rationales that may support a conclusion of obviousness include: (A) Combining prior art elements according to known methods to yield predictable results; (B)…
Question: What actions should happen if an examiner discovers new matter in a substitute or additional drawing? Answer: If the examiner discovers new matter in a substitute or additional drawing, the drawing should not be entered and the examiner should…
Question: During what conditions would the complete file wrapper and contents of a patent application published in redacted form not be available? Answer: If an application was published in redacted form, the complete file wrapper and contents of the patent…
Question: Can a request for ex parte reexamination filed on or after January 16, 2018 be filed with a reduced filing fee? Answer: Yes, requests for ex parte reexamination filed on or after January 16, 2018 may be filed with a reduced filing…
Question: Name a limitation that the courts have found not to be enough to qualify as “significantly more” when recited in a claim with a judicial exception. Answer: Limitations that the courts have found not to be enough to qualify…
Question: What are three pieces of information each patent listed in the Official Gazette may give? Answer: As to each patent listed in the Official Gazette, the following information may be given: (A) Patent number; (B) Title of the invention;…
Question: Once an appellant has filed a notice of appeal, what situations may that appellant request that prosecution be reopened for? Answer: Once appellant has filed a notice of appeal, appellant also may request that prosecution be reopened for the…
Question: List two laboratory techniques the courts have recognized as well-understood, routine, conventional activities in the life science arts when they are claimed in a merely generic manner (e.g., at a high level of generality) or as insignificant extra-solution activity. Answer:…
Question: If the Board affirms a rejection against independent claim 1, reverses all rejections against dependent claim 2 and claim 3 is allowed, after expiration of the period for further appeal, what should the examiner do? Answer: If the Board…
Question: What are the four purposes 35 U.S.C. 101 has been interpreted as imposing? Answer: 35 U.S.C. 101 has been interpreted as imposing four purposes. First, 35 U.S.C. 101 limits an inventor to ONE patent for a claimed invention. If…
Question: Name one advantage a CPA has compared to a continuation or divisional application filed under 37 CFR 1.53(b). Answer: A CPA has a number of advantages compared to a continuation or divisional application filed under 37 CFR 1.53(b). For…
Question: What is the second part of the Alice/Mayo test often referred to as? Answer: The second part of the Alice/Mayo test is often referred to as a search for an inventive concept. An inventive concept “cannot be furnished by the unpatentable law…
Question: How do examiners evaluate integration into a practical application? Answer: Examiners evaluate integration into a practical application by: (1) identifying whether there are any additional elements recited in the claim beyond the judicial exception(s); and (2) evaluating those additional…
Question: How is the markedly different characteristics analysis performed? Answer: The markedly different characteristics analysis compares the nature-based product limitation to its naturally occurring counterpart in its natural state. Markedly different characteristics can be expressed as the product’s structure, function,…
Question: Give an example of a claim that does not recite mental processes because it cannot be practically performed in the human mind. Answer: Examples of claims that do not recite mental processes because they cannot be practically performed in…
Question: What is meant by a fundamental economic practice or principle? Answer: The courts have used the phrases “fundamental economic practices” or “fundamental economic principles” to describe concepts relating to the economy and commerce. Fundamental economic principles or practices include…
Question: Can an inventor apply for a patent jointly even when they did not physically work together or at the same time? Answer: The inventive entity for a particular application is based on some contribution to at least one of…
Question: What type of applications and proceedings may submit photographs, color drawings, grayscale drawings, and other drawings that are not black and white line drawings via EFS-Web? Answer: Photographs, color drawings, grayscale drawings, and other drawings that are not black…
Question: When do members of a Markush group share a ‘single structural similarity’? Answer: Members of a Markush group share a “single structural similarity” when they belong to the same recognized physical or chemical class or to the same art-recognized…
Question: What must a statement under 37 CFR 1.97(e) state? Answer: A statement under 37 CFR 1.97(e) must state either; that each item of information contained in the information disclosure statement was first cited in any communication from a foreign…
Question: What must a claim in dependent form contain? Answer: A claim in dependent form shall contain: (i) a reference to a claim previously set forth, and (ii) then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. Chapter Details:…
Question: When the online fee payment in EFS-Web is unavailable, what types of submissions cannot be filed via EFS-Web, since online fee payment must accompany the submission? Answer: When the online fee payment in EFS-Web is unavailable, the following types…
Question: What are the benefits of filing a nonprovisional application claiming the benefit of the filing date of the provisional application under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) rather than requesting conversion? Answer: Claiming the benefit of the provisional application under 35 U.S.C.…
Question: What are examples of situations where ownership must be established? Answer: Examples of situations where ownership must be established are when the assignee who is not the applicant: signs a request for status of an application or gives a…
Question: What happens if a claim for foreign priority is presented after the time period set in 37 CFR 1.55? Answer: If a claim for foreign priority is presented after the time period set in 37 CFR 1.55, the claim may be…
Question: What are the enumerated groupings of abstract ideas defined as? Answer: The enumerated groupings of abstract ideas are defined as: 1) Mathematical concepts – mathematical relationships, mathematical formulas or equations, mathematical calculations; 2) Certain methods of organizing human activity…
Question: When is a protest considered timely? Answer: A protest is timely if (1) filed prior to the date the application was published under 37 CFR 1.211 or the date a notice of allowance was given or mailed, whichever occurs first, or (2)…
Question: If a published patent application is pending and it is not maintained in the IFW system, will the paper application file itself be available to the public for inspection? Answer: Published applications maintained in the IFW system are available…
Question: How is the effective filing date of a claimed invention determined? Answer: The effective filing date of a claimed invention is determined on a claim-by-claim basis. Chapter Details: The answer to this question can be found in chapter 2100…
Question: How can correspondence filed via the Office electronic filing system be signed? Answer: Correspondence filed via the Office electronic filing system may be signed by a graphic representation of a handwritten signature, or a graphic representation of an S-signature.…
