Chapter 0700
Examination of Applications
- 701-Statutory Authority for Examination
- 702-Requisites of the Application
- 703-[Reserved]
- 704-Search and Requirements for Information
- 705-Patentability Reports
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706-Rejection of Claims
- 706.01-Contrasted With Objections
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706.02-Rejection on Prior Art
- 706.02(a)-Rejections Under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) and (a)(2) and Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a), (b), or (e); Printed Publication or Patent
- 706.02(b)-Overcoming a 35 U.S.C. 102 Rejection Based on a Printed Publication or Patent
- 706.02(c)-Rejections Under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) or Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a) or (b); Knowledge by Others or Public Use or Sale
- 706.02(d)-Rejections Under Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(c)
- 706.02(e)-Rejections Under Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(d)
- 706.02(f)-Rejection Under Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(e)
- 706.02(g)-Rejections Under Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(f)
- 706.02(h)-Rejections Under Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(g)
- 706.02(i)-Form Paragraphs for Use in Rejections Under 35 U.S.C. 102
- 706.02(j)-Contents of a 35 U.S.C. 103 Rejection
- 706.02(k)-Provisional Rejection (Obviousness) Under 35 U.S.C. 103 Using Provisional Prior Art Under Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(e)
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706.02(l)-Rejections Under Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 103(a) Using Prior Art Under Only Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 (e), (f), or (g)
- 706.02(l)(1)-Rejections Under Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 103(a) Using Prior Art Under Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(e), (f), or (g); Prior Art Disqualification Under Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 103(c)
- 706.02(l)(2)-Establishing Common Ownership or Joint Research Agreement Under Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 103(c)
- 706.02(l)(3)-Examination Procedure With Respect to Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 103(c)
- 706.02(m)-Form Paragraphs for Use in Rejections Under 35 U.S.C. 103
- 706.02(n)-Biotechnology Process Applications; Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 103(b)
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706.03-Rejections Not Based on Prior Art
- 706.03(a)-Rejections Under 35 U.S.C. 101
- 706.03(b)-Barred by Atomic Energy Act
- 706.03(c)-Rejections Under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, First Paragraph
- 706.03(d)-Rejections Under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, Second Paragraph
- 706.03(e)-Form Paragraphs for Use Relating to 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, Sixth Paragraph
- 706.03(f) - 706.03(j)-[Reserved]
- 706.03(k)-Duplicate Claims
- 706.03(l)-[Reserved]
- 706.03(m)-Nonelected Inventions
- 706.03(n)-[Reserved]
- 706.03(o)-New Matter
- 706.03(p) - 706.03(r)-[Reserved]
- 706.03(s)-Foreign Filing Without License
- 706.03(t)-[Reserved]
- 706.03(u)-Disclaimer
- 706.03(v)-After Interference or Former Public Use Proceeding
- 706.03(w)-Res Judicata
- 706.03(x)-Reissue
- 706.04-Rejection of Previously Allowed Claims
- 706.05-Rejection After Allowance of Application
- 706.06-Rejection of Claims Copied From Patent
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706.07-Final Rejection
- 706.07(a)-Final Rejection, When Proper on Second Action
- 706.07(b)-Final Rejection, When Proper on First Action
- 706.07(c)-Final Rejection, Premature
- 706.07(d)-Final Rejection, Withdrawal of, Premature
- 706.07(e)-Withdrawal of Final Rejection, General
- 706.07(f)-Time for Reply to Final Rejection
- 706.07(g)-Transitional After-Final Practice
- 706.07(h)-Request for Continued Examination (RCE) Practice
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707-Examiner’s Letter or Action
- 707.01-Primary Examiner Indicates Action for New Assistant
- 707.02-Applications Up for Third Action and 5-Year Applications
- 707.03‑707.04-[Reserved]
- 707.05-Citation of References
- 707.06-Citation of Decisions, Orders Memorandums, and Notices
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707.07-Completeness and Clarity of Examiner’s Action
- 707.07(a)-Complete Action on Formal Matters
- 707.07(b) - 707.07(c)-[Reserved]
- 707.07(d)-Language To Be Used in Rejecting Claims
- 707.07(e)-Note All Outstanding Requirements
- 707.07(f)-Answer All Material Traversed
- 707.07(g)-Piecemeal Examination
- 707.07(h)-Notify of Inaccuracies in Amendment
- 707.07(i)-Each Claim To Be Mentioned in Each Office Action
- 707.07(j)-State When Claims Are Allowable
- 707.07(k)-Numbering Paragraphs
- 707.07(l)-Comment on Examples
- 707.08-Reviewing and Initialing by Assistant Examiner
- 707.09-Signing by Primary or Other Authorized Examiner
- 707.10-Entry
- 707.11-Date
- 707.12-Mailing
- 707.13-Returned Office Action
- 708-Order of Examination
- 709-Suspension of Action
- 710-Period for Reply
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711-Abandonment of Patent Application
- 711.01-Express or Formal Abandonment
- 711.02-Failure To Take Required Action During Statutory Period
- 711.03-Reconsideration of Holding of Abandonment; Revival
- 711.04-Public Access to Abandoned Applications
- 711.05-Letter of Abandonment Received After Application Is Allowed
- 711.06-Abstracts, Abbreviatures, and Defensive Publications
- 712-[Reserved]
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713-Interviews
- 713.01-General Policy, How Conducted
- 713.02-Interviews Prior to First Official Action
- 713.03-Interview for “Sounding Out” Examiner Not Permitted
- 713.04-Substance of Interview Must Be Made of Record
- 713.05-Interviews Prohibited or Granted, Special Situations
- 713.06-No Inter Partes Questions Discussed Ex Parte
- 713.07-Exposure of Other Cases
- 713.08-Demonstration, Exhibits, Models
- 713.09-Finally Rejected Application
- 713.10-Interview Preceding Filing Amendment Under 37 CFR 1.312
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714-Amendments, Applicant’s Action
- 714.01-Signatures to Amendments
- 714.02-Must Be Fully Responsive
- 714.03-Amendments Not Fully Responsive, Action To Be Taken
- 714.04-Claims Presented in Amendment With No Attempt To Point Out Patentable Novelty
- 714.05-Examiner Should Immediately Review
- 714.06-[Reserved]
- 714.07-Amendments Not in Permanent Ink
- 714.08-714.09-[Reserved]
- 714.10-Claims Added in Excess of Claims Previously Paid For
- 714.11-Amendment Filed During Interference Proceedings
- 714.12-Amendments and Other Replies After Final Rejection or Action
- 714.13-Amendments and Other Replies After Final Rejection or Action, Procedure Followed
- 714.14-Amendments After Allowance of All Claims
- 714.15-Amendment Received in Technology Center After Mailing of Notice of Allowance
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714.16-Amendment After Notice of Allowance, 37 CFR 1.312
- 714.16(a)-Amendments Under 37 CFR 1.312, Copied Patent Claims
- 714.16(b)-Amendments Under 37 CFR 1.312 Filed With a Motion Under 37 CFR 41.208
- 714.16(c)-Amendments Under 37 CFR 1.312, Additional Claims
- 714.16(d)-Amendments Under 37 CFR 1.312, Handling
- 714.16(e)-Amendments Under 37 CFR 1.312, Entry in Part
- 714.17-Amendment Filed After the Period for Reply Has Expired
- 714.18-Entry of Amendments
- 714.19-List of Amendments, Entry Denied
- 714.20-List of Amendments Entered in Part
- 714.21-Amendments Inadvertently Entered, No Legal Effect
- 714.22-714.24-[Reserved]
- 714.25-Discourtesy of Applicant or Attorney
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715-Swearing Behind a Reference — Affidavit or Declaration Under 37 CFR 1.131(a)
- 715.01-37 CFR 1.131(a) Affidavits Versus 37 CFR 1.132 Affidavits
- 715.02-How Much of the Claimed Invention Must Be Shown, Including the General Rule as to Generic Claims
- 715.03-Genus-Species, Practice Relative to Cases Where Predictability Is in Question
- 715.04-Who May Make Affidavit or Declaration Under 37 CFR 1.131(a); Formal Requirements of Affidavits and Declarations
- 715.05-U.S. Patent or Application Publication Claiming Same Invention
- 715.06-[Reserved]
- 715.07-Facts and Documentary Evidence
- 715.08-Decided by Primary Examiner
- 715.09-Timely Presentation
- 715.10-Review of Affidavit or Declaration for Evidence of Prior Public Use or Sale or Failure to Disclose Best Mode
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716-Affidavits or Declarations Traversing Rejections, 37 CFR 1.132
- 716.01-Generally Applicable Criteria
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716.02-Allegations of Unexpected Results
- 716.02(a)-Evidence Must Show Unexpected Results
- 716.02(b)-Burden on Applicant
- 716.02(c)-Weighing Evidence of Expected and Unexpected Results
- 716.02(d)-Unexpected Results Commensurate in Scope With Claimed Invention
- 716.02(e)-Comparison With Closest Prior Art
- 716.02(f)-Advantages Disclosed or Inherent
- 716.02(g)-Declaration or Affidavit Form
- 716.03-Commercial Success
- 716.04-Long-Felt Need and Failure of Others
- 716.05-Skepticism of Experts
- 716.06-Copying
- 716.07-Inoperability of References
- 716.08-Utility and Operability of Applicant’s Disclosure
- 716.09-Sufficiency of Disclosure
- 716.10-Attribution Affidavit or Declaration to Overcome Rejection Under Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 or 103
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717-Prior Art Exceptions under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) and (2)
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717.01-Affidavit or Declaration Under 37 CFR 1.130
- 717.01(a) -Declarations or Affidavits under 37 CFR 1.130(a) – Attribution
- 717.01(b) -Declarations or Affidavits under 37 CFR 1.130(b) – Prior Public Disclosure
- 717.01(c) -Who May Make Affidavit or Declaration; Formal Requirements of Affidavits and Declarations
- 717.01(d)-U.S. Patent or Application Publication Claiming Same Invention
- 717.01(e) -Passed Upon (or Decided by) by Primary Examiner
- 717.01(f) -Seasonable (or Timely) Presentation
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717.02 -Prior Art Exception for Commonly Owned or Joint Research Agreement Subject Matter under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C)
- 717.02(a) -Invoking the Prior Art Exception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C)
- 717.02(b) -Evaluating Whether the Prior Art Exception under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) is Properly Invoked
- 717.02(c) -Examination Procedure With Respect to the Prior Art Exception under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C)
- 717.02(d) -Form Paragraphs With Respect to the Prior Art Exception under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C)
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717.01-Affidavit or Declaration Under 37 CFR 1.130
- 718-Affidavit or Declaration to Disqualify Commonly Owned Patent as Prior Art, 37 CFR 1.131(c)
- 719-File Wrapper
- 720-Public Use Proceedings
- 721‑723-[Reserved]
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724-Trade Secret, Proprietary, and Protective Order Materials
- 724.01-Completeness of the Patent File Wrapper
- 724.02-Method of Submitting Trade Secret, Proprietary, and/or Protective Order Materials
- 724.03-Types of Trade Secret, Proprietary, and/or Protective Order Materials Submitted Under MPEP § 724.02
- 724.04-Office Treatment and Handling of Materials Submitted Under MPEP § 724.02
- 724.05-Petition To Expunge Information or Copy of Papers in Application File
- 724.06-Handling of Petitions To Expunge Information or Copy of Papers in Application File