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 discusses some questionable reference types and whether or not they are considered prior art.

The reference types outlined here include; matter cancelled in an application, copending abandoned applications and foreign patents.

Key Terms:

Prior ArtPrior art refers to any evidence of an invention’s existence or description before a given date, used to determine the novelty and originality of a patent application.
Canceled MatterCanceled matter refers to content that has been removed from a patent application during the examination process and is not considered part of the final granted patent.
Pending ApplicationsPending applications are patent applications that have been filed with the patent office but have not yet been granted or rejected.

Quick Statistics:

Number of Pages:  58 pgs
Sections:  901 – 909

List of Sections:

901Prior Art
 901.01 Canceled Matter in U.S. Patent Files
 901.01(a) Ordering of Patented and Abandoned Provisional and Nonprovisional Application Files
 901.02 Abandoned Applications
 901.03 Pending Applications
 901.04 U.S. Patents
 901.04(a) Kind Codes
 901.05 Foreign Patent Documents
 901.05(a) Citation Data
 901.05(b) Other Significant Data
 901.05(c) Obtaining Copies
 901.05(d) Translation
 901.06 Nonpatent Publications
 901.06(a) Scientific and Technical Information Center (STIC)
 901.06(b) Borrowed Publications
 901.06(c) Alien Property Custodian Publications
 901.06(d) Abstracts, Abbreviatures, and Defensive Publications
 901.07 Patent Family Information
 901.08 Global Dossier Public Access
902Search Tools and Classification Information
 902.01 Classification Manual for the U.S. Patent Classification System
 902.01(a) Index to the U.S. Patent Classification System
 902.02 Class and Subclass Definitions in USPC
 902.02(a) Definition Notes in USPC
 902.02(b) [Reserved]
 902.03 Classification Information
 902.03(a) Patent Classification Home Page on the Internet
 902.03(b) Patent Classification Home Page on the USPTO Intranet
 902.03(c) [Reserved]
 902.03(d) [Reserved]
 902.03(e) Automated Search Tools: EAST, WEST, and SEARCH
903Classification in USPC
 903.01 Statutory Authority
 903.02 Basis and Principles of Classification in USPC
 903.02(a) [Reserved]
 903.02(b) Scope of a Class in the USPC
 903.03 Availability of Foreign Patents
 903.04 Classifying Applications for Publication as a Plant Patent Application Publication in USPC
 903.05 Addition, Deletion, or Transfer of U.S. Design Patents by USPC Classification
 903.06 Harmonized Subclasses
 903.07 Classifying and Cross-Referencing Design and Plant Applications at Allowance
 903.07(a) Cross-Referencing Design and Plant Applications — Keep Systematic Notes During Prosecution
 903.08 [Reserved]
 903.08(a) [Reserved]
 903.08(b) [Reserved]
 903.08(c) [Reserved]
 903.08(d) [Reserved]
 903.08(e) [Reserved]
 903.09 [Reserved]
 903.09(a) [Reserved]
904How to Search
 904.01 Analysis of Claims
 904.01(a) Variant Embodiments Within Scope of Claim
 904.01(b) Equivalents
 904.01(c) Analogous Arts
 904.02 General Search Guidelines
 904.02(a) Classified Search
 904.02(b) Search Tool Selection
 904.02(c) Internet Searching
 904.03 Conducting the Search
 904.04 Search of Related Post-Grant Proceedings
905Cooperative Patent Classification
 905.01 Classification Scheme for CPC
 905.01(a) CPC Titles
 905.01(a)(1) References within CPC Titles
 905.01(a)(2) Notes Found in CPC schemes
 905.01(a)(3) Warnings Found in CPC schemes
 905.01(a)(4) Guidance Headings Found in CPC Schemes
 905.02 CPC Definitions
 905.03 Classifying in CPC
 905.03(a) The CPC Database
 905.03(b) Approach to classification in CPC
 905.03(c) Combination Sets
906International Classification of Patents for Inventions
907Locarno Classification Designations
908[reserved]
909Routing and Docketing of Applications
 909.01 Assignment, Transfer and Classification Challenges under Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC)
 909.01(a) New Applications in CPC
 909.01(b) Classification and Assignment to Examiner in CPC
 909.01(c) Immediate Inspection of Amendments
 909.01(d) Classification Challenge Procedure in CPC
 909.02 Applications: Assignment and Transfer in USPC
 909.02(a) New Design and Plant Patent Applications under 35 U.S.C. 161
 909.02(b) Classification and Assignment to Examiner
 909.02(c) [Reserved]
 909.02(d) Transfer Procedure
 909.02(e) General Guidelines Governing the Assignment of Nonprovisional Design and Plant Applications for Examination

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