Home > Patent Bar MPEP Breakdown > MPEP 1100 MPEP 1100 Statutory Invention Registration (SIR); Pre-Grant Publication (PGPub) and Preissuance Submissions Brief Summary: Statutory invention registration (SIR) provided inventors with a means for placing their invention in the public domain…
Home > Patent Bar MPEP Breakdown > MPEP 1000 MPEP 1000 Matters Decided by Various U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Officials Brief Summary: An applicant dissatisfied with a decision made by the PTO may file either a petition to the…
Home > Patent Bar MPEP Breakdown > MPEP 900 MPEP 900 Prior Art, Search, Classification, and Routing Brief Summary: This chapter gives a basic overview for patent examiners on how to conduct a prior art search. The prior art section…
Home > Patent Bar MPEP Breakdown > MPEP 800 MPEP 800 Restriction in Applications Filed Under 35 U.S.C. 111; Double Patenting Brief Summary: A restriction may occur when a single application claims two or more independent and distinct inventions within…
Home > Patent Bar MPEP Breakdown > MPEP 700 MPEP 700 Examination of Applications Brief Summary: Learn about the many aspects of the examination process including; appropriate replies to a first Office action, second Office action and final rejections. Rejections…
Home > Patent Bar MPEP Breakdown > MPEP 600 MPEP 600 Parts, Form, and Content of Application Brief Summary: Chapter 600 explicitly describes the contents required for filing an application and gaining a filing date. Detailed descriptions and guidelines for…
Home > Patent Bar MPEP Breakdown > MPEP 500 MPEP 500 Receipt and Handling of Mail and Papers Brief Summary: There are proper methods for sending documents to the PTO in order to insure that the documents are received on…
Home > Patent Bar MPEP Breakdown > MPEP 400 MPEP 400 Representative of Applicant or Owner Brief Summary: Chapter 400 provides an overview of the individuals who are legally capable of helping an inventor file a patent application. The power…
Home > Patent Bar MPEP Breakdown > MPEP 300 MPEP 300 Ownership and Assignment Brief Summary: Inventorship is always granted to the individual who invented the subject matter of the patent. However, the inventor(s) may sell or transfer the rights…
Home > Patent Bar MPEP Breakdown > MPEP 200 MPEP 200 Types and Status of Application; Benefit and Priority Claims Brief Summary: Chapter 200 discusses many important topics. These include the differences between national and international applications and a general…
Home > Patent Bar MPEP Breakdown > MPEP 100 MPEP 100 Secrecy, Access, National Security, and Foreign Filing Brief Summary: This chapter covers the confidentiality of patent applications and patent related documents. The focus is on who may or may…
Question: What are the two aspects every requirement to restrict has? Answer: Every requirement to restrict has two aspects: the reasons (as distinguished from the mere statement of conclusion) why each invention as claimedis either independent or distinct from the…
Question: Who conducts derivation proceedings, inter partes reviews, and post-grant reviews? Answer: The Board is to conduct derivation proceedings, inter partes reviews, and post-grant reviews. Chapter Details: This question comes from the following supplement “Patent Trial and Appeal Board Consolidated…
Question: List two changes the Hague Agreement Article 16(1) provides for in the International Register by the International Bureau. Answer: Hague Agreement Article 16(1) provides for the recording of certain changes in the International Register by the International Bureau, including:…
Question: When did the derivation rules go into effect? Answer: The derivation rules went into effect 18 months after AIA enactment (March 16, 2013). Chapter Details: This question comes from the following supplement “Patent Trial and Appeal Board Consolidated Trial…
Question: How should measurements be given within a patent application? Answer: In order to minimize the necessity in the future for converting dimensions given in the English system of measurements to the metric system of measurements when using printed patents…
Question: List two situations that are not considered new grounds of rejection? Answer: Where the statutory basis for the rejection remains the same, and the evidence relied upon in support of the rejection remains the same, a change in the…
Question: How may an examiner treat an amendment not fully responsive to a non-final Office action? Answer: An examiner may treat an amendment not fully responsive to a non-final Office action by: (A) accepting the amendment as an adequate reply…
Question: When inconsistent information is given for an application data sheet, what submission will govern control according to 37 CFR 1.76(d)(1)? Answer: 37 CFR 1.76(d)(1) provides that the most recent submission will govern (control) with respect to inconsistencies as between…
Question: What are the factual inquiries of obviousness enunciated by the Court? Answer: Obviousness is a question of law based on underlying factual inquiries. The factual inquiries enunciated by the Court are as follows: (A) Determining the scope and content…
Question: What do the provisions of 37 CFR 1.114, request for continued examination, not apply to? Answer: The provisions of 27 CFR 1.114, Request for continued examination, do not apply to: (1) A provisional application; (2) An application for a…
Question: When will a provisional application be given a filing date? Answer: A provisional application filed on or after December 18, 2013 will be given a filing date as of the date a specification, with or without claims, is received…
Question: List at least 3 special cases (those which are advanced out of turn for examination). Answer: The following is a list of special cases (those which are advanced out of turn for examination): (A) Applications on inventions that are…
Question: Since CPA applications were eliminated for utility and plant applications, what should applicants who wish to continue examination of the same claimed invention after the prosecution of a utility or plant application is closed consider filing? Answer: Effective July…
Question: What is the time for reply to a final rejection? Answer: The time for reply to a final rejection is as follows: (A) All final rejections setting a 3-month shortened statutory period (SSP) for reply should contain a form…
Question: When does the revocation of a filing receipt license become effective? Answer: The revocation becomes effective on the date on which the notice is mailed. Chapter Details: The answer to this question can be found in chapter 100 of…
Question: How can a maintenance fee and any necessary surcharge be made? Answer: The method of payment for the maintenance fee and any necessary surcharge shall be made in U.S. dollars and in the form of a cashier’s or certified…
Question: What does a petition under 37 CFR 1.78(b) require? Answer: A petition under 37 CFR 1.78(b) requires: (A) the reference required by 35 U.S.C. 119(e)and 37 CFR 1.78 to the prior-filed provisional application, which must be included in application…
Question: 37 CFR 1.136(a) permits an applicant to file a petition for extension of time and a fee up to 5 months after the end of the time period set to take action except during which circumstances? Answer: 37 CFR…
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)…
