Question: List two computer functions recognized to be well‐understood, routine, and conventional functions when they are claimed in a merely generic manner. Answer: The courts have recognized the following computer functions to be well‐understood, routine, and conventional functions when they…
Question: Name two times when an applicant may want to consider an explicit petition for foreign filing licenses. Answer: Explicit petitions for foreign filing licenses may be considered by applicants when: the filing receipt license is not granted; the filing…
Question: Name two indicia that a continuing reissue application is being filed. Answer: Indicia that a continuing reissue application is being filed are: A reissue oath/declaration, which is not merely a copy of the parent’s reissue oath A specification and/or…
Question: For participation in the Global/IP5 PPH pilot program at the USPTO, does the applicant need to submit a petition fee under 37 C.F.R. 1.17(h). Answer: No, for participation in the Global/IP5 PPH pilot program at the USPTO, the applicant…
Question: Name one item the submission of Article 19 amendments should comprise. Answer: The submission of Article 19 amendments should comprise: (i) a complete set of claims in replacement of the claims originally filed (ii) a letter which must indicate…
Question: What are the grounds for seeking inter partes review limited to compared with post-grant review? Answer: The grounds for seeking inter partes review are limited to issues raised under 35 U.S.C. 102 or 103 and only on the basis of prior…
Question: What is an earlier concluded examination or review of the patent? Answer: An earlier concluded examination or review of the patent is: (A) the original examination of the application which matured into the patent; (B) the examination of the…
Question: What must a petition for a derivation proceeding provide? Answer: In a petition for a derivation proceeding, the petitioner must: (i) identify which application or patent is disputed; and (ii) provide at least one affidavit addressing communication of the…
Question: List two activities that can be used as an indication of commercial exploitation? Answer: The following activities should be used by the examiner as indicia of this subjective commercial intent: Preparation of various contemporaneous “commercial” documents, e.g., orders, invoices,…
Question: List two types of information that are considered status information. Answer: Status information of an application means only the following information: whether the application is pending, abandoned, or patented; whether the application has been published; the application number or…
Question: List at least 2 fees that are reduced by 75% for micro entities. Answer: The fees which are reduced by 75% for micro entities include filing fees (nonprovisional and provisional), search fees, examination fees, issue fees, and appeal fees…
Question: What must any nonstatutory double patenting rejection made under the obviousness analysis make clear? Answer: Any nonstatutory double patenting rejection made under the obviousness analysis should make clear: (A) The differences between the inventions defined by the conflicting claims —…
Question: When is a nonpublication request not appropriate? Answer: A nonpublication request is not appropriate if applicants have already filed a counterpart foreign or international application in another country, or under a multilateral international agreement, that requires publication of applications at…
Question: What may an examiner do after he or she has considered the issues on appeal? Answer: After an appeal brief has been filed and the examiner has considered the issues on appeal, the examiner may: reopen prosecution to enter…
Question: Except as provided in 37 C.F.R. 11.107 (b), a practitioner shall not represent a client if the representation involves a concurrent conflict of interest. When does a concurrent conflict of interest exist? Answer: A concurrent conflict of interest exists…
Question: What is essential material? Answer: “Essential material” is defined as that which is necessary to: provide a written description of the claimed invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise,…
Question: What are the two statutory requirements that must be met before a Certificate of Correction for an applicant’s mistake to issue? Answer: Two separate statutory requirements must be met before a Certificate of Correction for an applicant’s mistake may…
Question: List three non-limiting examples of the types of characteristics considered by the courts when determining whether there is a marked difference. Answer: Non-limiting examples of the types of characteristics considered by the courts when determining whether there is a…
Question: What 5 conditions should an examiner check for before requiring an applicant to add a claim to provoke an interference? Answer: The 5 conditions an examiner should check for before requiring an applicant to add a claim to provoke…
Question: List 3 examples of concepts courts have found to be laws of nature and natural phenomena. Answer: The types of concepts courts have found to be laws of nature and natural phenomena are shown by these cases, which are…
Question: What does the Patent Prosecution Highway or PPH attempt to accomplish? Answer: The Patent Prosecution Highway, or PPH enables an applicant who receives a positive ruling on patent claims from one participating office to request accelerated prosecution of corresponding claims…
Question: List one reason a practitioner should act as an advocate at a proceeding before a tribunal in which the practitioner is likely to be a necessary witness. Answer: A practitioner shall not act as advocate at a proceeding before…
Question: If a patent is assigned, will that change the “correspondence address” or “fee address” used for maintenance fee purposes? Answer: An assignment of a patent application or patent does not result in a change of the “correspondence address” or…
Question: Can the Board defer action on a petition for a derivation proceeding? Answer: The Patent Trial and Appeal Board may defer action on a petition for a derivation proceeding until the expiration of the 3-month period beginning on the…
Question: Can a division of a fee between practitioners who are not in the same firm may be made? Answer: A division of a fee between practitioners who are not in the same firm may be made only if: The…
Question: Who may file a petition to institute a post-grant review? Answer: A person who is not the patent owner may file a petition to institute a post-grant review, unless the petitioner or real party-in-interest had already filed a civil…
Question: What 3 components (in addition to the mandatory requirements) must an international design application designating the U.S. include? Answer: In addition to the mandatory requirements otherwise required for international design applications, an international design application designating the United States…
Question: List one item the applicant must establish under 35 U.S.C. 156(a)(1)-(5). Answer: 35 U.S.C. 156(a)(1)-(5) require that the applicant establish that: (1) the patent has not expired before an application under 35 U.S.C. 156(d) was filed (this may be…
Question: Is it possible for an assignment in applications filed on or after September 16, 2012 to be utilized as the oath or declaration? Answer: Yes, for applications filed on or after September 16, 2012, an assignment may contain the statements required…
Question: List two factors to be considered when determining whether there is sufficient evidence to support a determination that a disclosure does not satisfy the enablement requirement and whether any necessary experimentation is ‘undue’. Answer: The factors to be considered…
