Chapter 2100
Patentability
- 2101-2102-[Reserved]
- 2103-Patent Examination Process
- 2104-Patentable Subject Matter
- 2105-Patentable Subject Matter — Living Subject Matter
- 2106-Patent Subject Matter Eligibility
- 2107-Guidelines for Examination of Applications for Compliance with the Utility Requirement
- 2108-2110-[Reserved]
- 2111-Claim Interpretation; Broadest Reasonable Interpretation
- 2112-Requirements of Rejection Based on Inherency; Burden of Proof
- 2113-Product-by-Process Claims
- 2114-Apparatus and Article Claims — Functional Language
- 2115-Material or Article Worked Upon by Apparatus
- 2116-[Reserved]
- 2117-2120-[Reserved]
- 2121-Prior Art; General Level of Operability Required to Make a Prima Facie Case
- 2122-Discussion of Utility in the Prior Art
- 2123-Rejection Over Prior Art’s Broad Disclosure Instead of Preferred Embodiments
- 2124-Exception to the Rule That the Critical Reference Date Must Precede the Filing Date
- 2125-Drawings as Prior Art
- 2126-Availability of a Document as a “Patent” for Purposes of Rejection Under 35 U.S.C. 102(a) or Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a), (b), and (d)
- 2127-Domestic and Foreign Patent Applications as Prior Art
- 2128-“Printed Publications” as Prior Art
- 2129-Admissions as Prior Art
- 2130-[Reserved]
- 2131-Anticipation — Application of 35 U.S.C. 102
- 2132-Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a)
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2133-Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b)
- 2133.01-Rejections of Continuation-In-Part (CIP) Applications
- 2133.02-Rejections Based on Publications and Patents
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2133.03-Rejections Based on “Public Use” or “On Sale”
- 2133.03(a)-“Public Use”
- 2133.03(b)-“On Sale”
- 2133.03(c)-The “Invention”
- 2133.03(d)-“In This Country”
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2133.03(e)-Permitted Activity; Experimental Use
- 2133.03(e)(1)-Commercial Exploitation
- 2133.03(e)(2)-Intent
- 2133.03(e)(3)-“Completeness” of the Invention
- 2133.03(e)(4)-Factors Indicative of an Experimental Purpose
- 2133.03(e)(5)-Experimentation and Degree of Supervision and Control
- 2133.03(e)(6)-Permitted Experimental Activity and Testing
- 2133.03(e)(7)-Activity of an Independent Third Party Inventor
- 2134-Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(c)
- 2135-Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(d)
- 2136-Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(e)
- 2137-Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(f)
- 2138-Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(g)
- 2139-2140-[Reserved]
- 2141-Examination Guidelines for Determining Obviousness Under 35 U.S.C. 103
- 2142-Legal Concept of Prima Facie Obviousness
- 2143-Examples of Basic Requirements of a Prima Facie Case of Obviousness
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2144-Supporting a Rejection Under 35 U.S.C. 103
- 2144.01-Implicit Disclosure
- 2144.02-Reliance on Scientific Theory
- 2144.03-Reliance on Common Knowledge in the Art or “Well Known” Prior Art
- 2144.04-Legal Precedent as Source of Supporting Rationale
- 2144.05-Obviousness of Similar and Overlapping Ranges, Amounts, and Proportions
- 2144.06-Art Recognized Equivalence for the Same Purpose
- 2144.07-Art Recognized Suitability for an Intended Purpose
- 2144.08-Obviousness of Species When Prior Art Teaches Genus
- 2144.09-Close Structural Similarity Between Chemical Compounds (Homologs, Analogues, Isomers)
- 2145-Consideration of Applicant’s Rebuttal Arguments
- 2146-Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 103(c)
- 2147-2149-[Reserved]
- 2150-Examination Guidelines for 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 as Amended by the First Inventor To File Provisions of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act
- 2151-Overview of the Changes to 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 in the AIA
- 2152-Detailed Discussion of AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a) and (b)
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2153-Prior Art Exceptions Under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1)
- 2153.01-Prior Art Exception Under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1)(A) To AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) (Grace Period Inventor Or Inventor-Originated Disclosure Exception)
- 2153.02-Prior Art Exception Under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1)(B) to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) (Inventor Or Inventor-Originated Prior Public Disclosure Exception)
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2154-Provisions Pertaining to Subject Matter in a U.S. Patent or Application Effectively Filed Before the Effective Filing Date of the Claimed Invention
- 2154.01-Prior Art Under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) “U.S. Patent Documents”
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2154.02-Prior Art Exceptions Under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2) to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2)
- 2154.02(a)-Prior Art Exception Under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(A) to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) (Inventor-Originated Disclosure Exception)
- 2154.02(b)-Prior Art Exception Under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(B) to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) (Inventor or Inventor-Originated Prior Public Disclosure Exception)
- 2154.02(c)-Prior Art Exception Under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) (Common Ownership or Obligation of Assignment)
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2155-Use of Affidavits or Declarations Under 37 CFR 1.130 To Overcome Prior Art Rejections
- 2155.01-Showing That the Disclosure Was Made by the Inventor or a Joint Inventor
- 2155.02-Showing That the Subject Matter Disclosed Had Been Previously Publicly Disclosed by the Inventor or a Joint Inventor
- 2155.03-Showing That the Disclosure was Made, or That Subject Matter had Been Previously Publicly Disclosed, by Another Who Obtained the Subject Matter Disclosed Directly or Indirectly From the Inventor or a Joint Inventor
- 2155.04-Enablement
- 2155.05-Who May File an Affidavit or Declaration Under 37 CFR 1.130
- 2155.06-Situations in Which an Affidavit or Declaration Is Not Available
- 2156-Joint Research Agreements
- 2157-Improper Naming of Inventors
- 2158-AIA 35 U.S.C. 103
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2159-Applicability Date Provisions and Determining Whether an Application Is Subject to the First Inventor To File Provisions of the AIA
- 2159.01-Applications Filed Before March 16, 2013
- 2159.02-Applications Filed on or After March 16, 2013
- 2159.03-Applications Subject to the AIA but Also Containing a Claimed Invention Having an Effective Filing Date Before March 16, 2013
- 2159.04-Applicant Statement in Transition Applications Containing a Claimed Invention Having an Effective Filing Date on or After March 16, 2013
- 2160-[Reserved]
- 2161-Three Separate Requirements for Specification Under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, First Paragraph
- 2162-Policy Underlying 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, First Paragraph
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2163-Guidelines for the Examination of Patent Applications Under the 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, para. 1, “Written Description” Requirement
- 2163.01-Support for the Claimed Subject Matter in Disclosure
- 2163.02-Standard for Determining Compliance With the Written Description Requirement
- 2163.03-Typical Circumstances Where Adequate Written Description Issue Arises
- 2163.04-Burden on the Examiner with Regard to the Written Description Requirement
- 2163.05-Changes to the Scope of Claims
- 2163.06-Relationship of Written Description Requirement to New Matter
- 2163.07-Amendments to Application Which Are Supported in the Original Description
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2164-The Enablement Requirement
- 2164.01-Test of Enablement
- 2164.02-Working Example
- 2164.03-Relationship of Predictability of the Art and the Enablement Requirement
- 2164.04-Burden on the Examiner Under the Enablement Requirement
- 2164.05-Determination of Enablement Based on Evidence as a Whole
- 2164.06-Quantity of Experimentation
- 2164.07-Relationship of Enablement Requirement to Utility Requirement of 35 U.S.C. 101
- 2164.08-Enablement Commensurate in Scope With the Claims
- 2165-The Best Mode Requirement
- 2166-2170-[Reserved]
- 2171-Two Separate Requirements for Claims Under 35 U.S.C. 112 (b) or Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, Second Paragraph
- 2172-Subject Matter Which the Inventor or a Joint Inventor Regards as The Invention
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2173-Claims Must Particularly Point Out and Distinctly Claim the Invention
- 2173.01-Interpreting the Claims
- 2173.02-Determining Whether Claim Language is Definite
- 2173.03-Correspondence Between Specification and Claims
- 2173.04-Breadth Is Not Indefiniteness
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2173.05-Specific Topics Related to Issues Under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, Second Paragraph
- 2173.05(a)-New Terminology
- 2173.05(b)-Relative Terminology
- 2173.05(c)-Numerical Ranges and Amounts Limitations
- 2173.05(d)-Exemplary Claim Language (“for example,” “such as”)
- 2173.05(e)-Lack of Antecedent Basis
- 2173.05(f)-Reference to Limitations in Another Claim
- 2173.05(g)-Functional Limitations
- 2173.05(h)-Alternative Limitations
- 2173.05(i)-Negative Limitations
- 2173.05(j)-Old Combination
- 2173.05(k)-Aggregation
- 2173.05(l)-[Reserved]
- 2173.05(m)-Prolix
- 2173.05(n)-Multiplicity
- 2173.05(o)-Double Inclusion
- 2173.05(p)-Claim Directed to Product-By- Process or Product and Process
- 2173.05(q)-“Use” Claims
- 2173.05(r)-Omnibus Claim
- 2173.05(s)-Reference to Figures or Tables
- 2173.05(t)-Chemical Formula
- 2173.05(u)-Trademarks or Trade Names in a Claim
- 2173.05(v)-Mere Function of Machine
- 2173.06-Practice Compact Prosecution
- 2174-Relationship Between the Requirements of 35 U.S.C. 112(a) and (b) or Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, First and Second Paragraphs
- 2175-2180-[Reserved]
- 2181-Identifying and Interpreting a 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, Sixth Paragraph Limitation
- 2182-Search and Identification of the Prior Art
- 2183-Making a Prima Facie Case of Equivalence
- 2184-Determining Whether an Applicant Has Met the Burden of Proving Nonequivalence After a Prima Facie Case Is Made
- 2185-Related Issues Under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or (b) and Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, First or Second Paragraphs
- 2186-Relationship to the Doctrine of Equivalents
- 2187-2189-[Reserved]
- 2190-Prosecution Laches